Chinese Minister of Commerce Gao Hucheng addresses the 26th APEC Ministerial Meeting at the China National Convention Center in Beijing, China, Nov 7, 2014. [Photo/Xinhua]

BEIJING - Joint efforts should be made to speed up the economic integration process in the Asia-Pacific region, with the Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP) as a long-term vision, Chinese Minister of Commerce Gao Hucheng said here on Friday.

The Asia-Pacific economy is playing a critical role in the world, serving as the growth engine of the global economy, Gao said in his opening remarks at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Ministerial Meeting kicking off on Friday.

The APEC has made important contributions to the trade and investment liberalization and closer economic and technology cooperation among member economies, said Gao, the co-chair of the meeting.

APEC's 21 economies have accounted for 57 percent of the world's total gross domestic product (GDP), and all member economies need to use wisdom and courage to continue safeguarding the multilateral trading system in an unswerving manner, he added.

"In the meantime, all APEC members should actively promote economic and technology cooperation and seek mutual benefit and common development through closer partnership," Gao said.