China has pledged to boost its domestic growth to help counter obstacles hindering a global recovery.

Chinese President Hu Jintao made the promise Saturday at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Vladivostok.

Meanwhile, the U.S. and Russia have signed an agreement at the summit to enhance U.S. – Russia scientific cooperation in the Antarctic. U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov signed the pact Saturday.

Russia is hosting the APEC summit in Vladivostok. The meeting is expected to highlight efforts to re-energize world and regional economic growth. The 21-member APEC forum accounts for 40 percent of the world's population, 54 percent of economic output and 44 percent of trade.

While in Russia, Clinton is also expected to meet with President Vladimir Putin to discuss views on how to stop the bloodshed in Syria, where government forces are fighting an 18-month battle against rebels. The United States wants the ouster of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, while Russia opposes any foreign intervention.