MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Santiago, the world's hub for two days.

After a full year of preparations during which Chile hosted over 5,000 delegates from 21 different countries and six meetings at ministerial level, the culminating stage of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum began this week.

Some of the men representing the most powerful countries in the world will be at the summit including US president George Bush, Chinese president Hu Jintao, Russia's Vladimir Putin and Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi.

Last Sunday senior officials from APEC country members defined details of the agenda to be considered during the summit and from which will emerge the final declaration to be signed by the 21 presidents.

Next Wednesday and Thursday Foreign Affairs and Trade ministers from APEC member countries will be meeting to decide on four basic points: approval of procedures for free trade agreements; sending a strong political signal of support to the World Trade Organization Doha round; launching of an anticorruption campaign and a framework for sustainable development actions.

Saturday 20 and Sunday 21, the XII Apec summit will take place with the participation of the 21 presidents and leaders of Pacific basin economies which together represent almost half the world population and 55% of global trade. This is not only the most important and significant event Chile has ever organized but will also see a parade of official state visits.

Thursday morning President Ricardo Lagos will receive in Casa de la Moneda (Government House) the president and a delegation from Vietnam; in the evening Chinese President Hu Jintao; Friday mid day Korean president Roh Moo-Hyun and at 19:00 hour Russian president Vladimir Putin.

Sunday November 21 is reserved for US President George Bush and Monday 22 for the official Japanese visit of Primer Minister Junichiro Koizumi.

Sunday afternoon all leaders and presidents will gather in the Casa de la Moneda for the final pictures and Santiago Declaration.

APEC started back in 1989 as an instrument to help address common interests of the Asia-Pacific economies, finally becoming an effective tool to promote free trade and cooperation.

However the summit will not go undisturbed. Massive and supposedly peaceful protests against globalization and the Iraq war have been organized in downtown Santiago, and authorized by the Carabineros.

"We suspect radical extremist groups could infiltrate the march and provoke violent actions", admitted Jorge Correa Chilean Deputy Minister of Interior who said it was the event which faces most security challenges since the Pope's visit in 1987.

Starting Friday which was declared a holiday, all of Santiago's main avenues and the heart of the city will be cut off and an estimated 5,000 security forces will be displayed, plus those from the different leaders.

"All this display of force and intimidation is outrageous because it bears no relation with the marches we are planning", complained Victor Quijada, a Chilean union leader who will be joined by other world union leaders to protest against globalization and the lack of labour union representation in APEC.