Mexican President Vicente Fox said Saturday that "the only means" to defeat the evils that threaten our society such as hunger, poverty, organized cross- border crime and terrorism is "through cooperation."

"Cooperation is a powerful instrument to bring into economic development the most vulnerable groups in the region, those whom have been excluded from progress, the poor, indigenous people, women and those cultrually, socially and politically different," Fox told the CEO Summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation ( APEC).

Fox stressed that "economic cooperation is the best, maybe the only mechanism to guarantee world peace, security and stability."

Addressing the summit, which opened on Friday, Fox said trade and investment cooperation is "absolutely essential to promote economic growth and development" more than ever. "Cooperation is imperative to build more fair and human societies; to build up a future of shared development."

"Through cooperation we also want to foster a world of international peace and security," he told the meeting attended by nearly 400 business leaders from APEC economies.

On anti-terrorism, Fox said "it was essential to take the decision to end with this affliction from its roots," adding, however, that "it is essential to stop this kind of violence, in compliance with international law."

(Xinhua News Agency 10/20/2001)