SHANGHAI - Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov said on Thursday that Asia Pacific ministers were united in their stance against terrorism, which he said should also target the financial flows of terror groups.

Terrorism has come to dominate the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum gathering in the wake of the September 11 attacks on the United States and the U.S.-led attacks on Afghanistan in response.

Ivanov said foreign ministers meeting ahead of a weekend APEC leaders summit, which usually concentrates on economic issues, had agreed on the need for a united front against terrorism.

"The fact that the APEC forum, gathering representatives of different civilisations and religions, showed a high degree of unity in the need for a solid response to this challenge is of principal importance," he told reporters.

"The ministers also agreed about practical measures to establish control on the financial flows which could nourish terrorist activity in its various forms," he added.

Ivanov was speaking after a morning session of talks, which resume later on Thursday.
Ivanov was also to hold bilateral talks with U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell.

Russia, a relatively new member of the 21 member APEC having joined in 1998, sees the grouping as a way to cement its Eurasian status, a country with economic and political interests in both continents.

It has readily signed up to a coalition to fight terrorism, backing the U.S. strikes in Afghanistan against the Taliban. It wants the Taliban to hand over Saudi-born millionaire Osama bin-Laden, accused of orchestrating the September 11 attacks.