A series of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum (APEC) meetings commenced in Bali, Indonesia on October 1.
APEC senior officials are expected to agree on a set of recommendations to be discussed during the ministers’ meetings on October 4 and 5 on the threshold of the APEC Summit, scheduled for October 7-8.
Apart from adopting a joint statement, the APEC leaders will issue a private statement reaffirming their commitments to strengthening the multilateral trade system and trade expansion to facilitate economic growth, job creation and sustainable development.
They will also extend by one year (to the end of 2016) the commitment made in 2008 to refrain from introducing new trade and investment barriers, according to APEC officials.
A draft document obtained by Kyodo News said that senior officials will consider how APEC leaders can voice their strong support to bring some initiatives at the World Trade Organisation to a successful conclusion ahead of a WTO ministerial conference to be hosted by Indonesia in December.
Yuri Thamrin, chairman of the APEC senior officials' meeting and director general for Asia-Pacific and Africa in Indonesia's Foreign Ministry, said in his opening remarks that the initiatives all aim to ensure that trade in the Asia-Pacific region benefits all sectors of society.
Indonesia, as host of the APEC meeting, is also keen to have APEC leaders discuss infrastructure development and investment in order to improve regional connectivity, he added.
Set up in 1989, APEC consists of 21 member economies, namely Australia, Canada, Chile, China, Hong Kong, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Russia, Taiwan, the United States, Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.-VNA
APEC senior officials are expected to agree on a set of recommendations to be discussed during the ministers’ meetings on October 4 and 5 on the threshold of the APEC Summit, scheduled for October 7-8.
Apart from adopting a joint statement, the APEC leaders will issue a private statement reaffirming their commitments to strengthening the multilateral trade system and trade expansion to facilitate economic growth, job creation and sustainable development.
They will also extend by one year (to the end of 2016) the commitment made in 2008 to refrain from introducing new trade and investment barriers, according to APEC officials.
A draft document obtained by Kyodo News said that senior officials will consider how APEC leaders can voice their strong support to bring some initiatives at the World Trade Organisation to a successful conclusion ahead of a WTO ministerial conference to be hosted by Indonesia in December.
Yuri Thamrin, chairman of the APEC senior officials' meeting and director general for Asia-Pacific and Africa in Indonesia's Foreign Ministry, said in his opening remarks that the initiatives all aim to ensure that trade in the Asia-Pacific region benefits all sectors of society.
Indonesia, as host of the APEC meeting, is also keen to have APEC leaders discuss infrastructure development and investment in order to improve regional connectivity, he added.
Set up in 1989, APEC consists of 21 member economies, namely Australia, Canada, Chile, China, Hong Kong, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Russia, Taiwan, the United States, Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.-VNA
