Beijing venue prepares for APEC summit

A Beijing scenic spot set to host the 2014 APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in November threw open its gates to reporters on Thursday, showing how an overhaul of the site has readied it for the major event.

Yanqi Lake, in the northeastern suburb of Huairou district, has better infrastructure, facilities and service after six months of work, said Yang Xiangdong, the site's marketing manager.

Key buildings are grouped on an islet on the lake and include an international convention center, a boutique hotel and VIP villas.

Yang said that the APEC meeting has provided impetus to develop Yanqi Lake into a demonstration site for sustainable ecology and an important gateway for the capital's international exchanges.

APEC, short for Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation, is a summit for leaders of its members to discuss economic development of the Asia-Pacific region.

The 21 APEC members, including the United States, China, Japan and Russia, account for over half of the world's economic output, 40 percent of the world's population, and 46 percent of the total global trade.