APEC meeting ends with message of 'confidence and faith'

Lima, Nov 24 (DPA) The leaders of the 21 economies that make up the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum ended their annual meeting Sunday in Peru with a message of 'confidence and faith' at a time of global economic crisis.

Dressed in typically-Andean brown ponchos and standing in front of a giant photograph of the ancient ruins of the Machu Picchu Inca citadel, APEC leaders looked ahead and sought to inspire hope at a time of financial turmoil.

'This crisis will be temporary,' said Peruvian President Alan Garcia. 'We are going to beat the crisis with the help of the peoples and with the help of the businesses.'

Garcia called for the world to avoid lapsing 'into panic, or into depression, or into uncertainty, and sought some perspective as he noted that 'humanity has extraordinary financial resources that it had never had before.'