APEC Finance Ministers concluded their meeting on Friday by issuing a Joint Statement that expressed their determination to place member economies on a stronger, more sustainable and more balanced growth path.

Global growth is too weak, risks remain tilted to the downside and the economic outlook suggests growth is likely to be slower and less balanced than desired, Ministers agreed.

The Joint Statement offers a view of the macroeconomic environment in the APEC region, how the region may proceed to enhance infrastructure development, the importance of financial inclusion to achieving equality and enhancing growth potential, and the impact of the global financial crisis on the availability and cost of trade finance.

It is accompanied by two annexes:

A.) An APEC Public-Private Partnership Experts Advisory Panel and Pilot PPP Centre

B.) Report of 2013 APEC Finance Ministers’ Process Initiatives

The 21st APEC Finance Ministers’ Meeting will be held in Hong Kong, China in September 2014.