By Kenny Chee

FOREIGN ministers from the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) economies agreed yesterday that the economic crisis is "by no means over", said Singapore Foreign Affairs Minister George Yeo.

Speaking after an informal foreign-affairs ministers' breakfast, Mr Yeo said "the upturn that we now have is a respite".

"The situation is still fragile. We should still address the root causes of the problem."

Agence France-Presse said yesterday that Apec finance ministers are expected to pledge to maintain economic-stimulus spending efforts until global economic recovery is more secure, according to a draft statement.

The finance ministers will meet today to discuss the issue.

Yesterday, Apec foreign ministers also talked about economic challenges and resisting protectionism, Mr Yeo said.

They also affirmed the importance of working closely with the Group of 20, a regional group that includes nine Apec economies like the United States and China.

Mr Yeo said that Myanmar and North Korea issues were discussed in passing, and that foreign ministers spoke on the importance of helping economies that did not progress as fast as others because, otherwise, their problems could become the problems of other Apec economies.

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