China won rare praise for its economic reforms at an Asia-Pacific ministerial meeting here Friday while the United States was spared criticism for stiff counter-terrorism laws perceived as unfriendly to trade, officials said.

The assessment was made by independent experts commissioned by the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) forum to study plans framed by the two countries to achieve free trade and investment.

"China's economic reform accomplishments are remarkable and historic, especially as it also must balance the many other political, economic and social challenges it faces," according to a report on the world's most populous nation tabled at the Apec trade ministers meeting which opened at this Chilean resort town Friday.

Hank Lim, an expert from the Singapore Institute of International Affairs who prepared the report, said China had "performed well" on its principal commitments to the World Trade Organisation (WTO), especially in tariff reductions, the phase-out of non-tariff measures and liberalization ofthe service sector.