Asia-Pacific leaders call on Europe to be more flexible

Asia-Pacific leaders called on Europe to be more flexible at world trade negotiations as they opened an annual summit today, warning crucial talks next month on freeing markets could be a last chance to make progress toward that goal.

“We’re basically saying that now the ball is in Europe’s court,” South Korean Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon said after leaders of the 21-member Asia Pacific Economic Co-operation forum started a two-day summit in the port city of Busan.