Leaders of the 21 member economies of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation
(APEC) wrapped up their two-day meeting here Sunday after issuing a Hanoi
Declaration.
The leaders, after two days of discussions under the theme of "towards a
dynamic community for sustainable development and prosperity," reached consensus
on a range of issues including advancing free trade and investment, enhancing
human security, and building stronger societies and a more dynamic and
harmonious community.
Vietnamese President Nguyen Minh Triet read out the Hanoi Declaration at the
west entrance island of the National Convention Center.
"With a strong commitment to achieving the vision of stability, security and
prosperity for the Asia-Pacific region, we agreed to make every effort for
realizing APEC's goals of free and open trade and investment," the declaration
said.
"We dedicated ourselves to preventing threats to sustainable development, to
building a secure and favorable business environment and to enhancing human
security," it said, adding, "Wepledged to continue our work towards a dynamic
and harmonious Asia-Pacific community by building strong societies for the
well-being of our peoples."
For advancing free trade and investment, the leaders reaffirmed in the
declaration their resolve to revive the stalled Doha round of World Trade
Organization negotiations, and endorsed the Hanoi Action Plan to implement the
Busan Roadmap for realizing the Bogor Goals of free and open trade and
investment in the region by 2020.
To enhance human security in the region, the leaders pledged to "continue
efforts to combat terrorism in every form and manifestation," enhance
cooperation in preventing and responding Avian and Influenza pandemics, and
expand efforts toward combating the spread of HIV/AIDS in the region.
The declaration also urged APEC member economies to further intensify
cooperation in emergency preparedness and disaster response, and take measures
to safeguard energy security for the region's sustainable economic development.
Before concluding the meeting, the leaders posed for an official
photographing, the highlight of the annual meeting, wearing traditional
Vietnamese ao dai, or long dress, to show their solidarity.
In the past one week, a series of APEC meetings, including Concluding Senior
Officials' Meeting, Business Advisory Council meeting, Ministerial Meeting, CEO
Summit as well as the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting were held in the Vietnamese
capital.
In 2007, the APEC meetings will be held in Australia, APEC's birthplace.
Founded in 1989, APEC is a major regional forum for promoting open trade and
practical economic and technical cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region.
It represents the most economically dynamic region in the world, with its 21
member economies accounting for more than one third of the world's population,
approximately 60 percent of world GDP, and about 47 percent of world trade.
APEC members include Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, China, China's Hong
Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru,
the Philippines, Russia, Singapore, South Korea, Chinese Taipei, Thailand, the
United States and Vietnam.