Speaking at the 17th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders Meeting on November 15 in Singapore, President Nguyen Minh Triet emphasized the importance of increased economic links in the Asia-Pacific region, describing them a key to success and a firm foundation for APEC to maintain its role in the region and in the international arena.
The President called on APEC to hasten the fulfillment of the Bogor goals, accelerate regional integration and tackle uneven development levels in education and training, human resource development and transfer of clean and high technologies.
The APEC economies should also join hands to reduce trade discrimination against developing members, make the best of regional and sub-regional connectivity and promote multilateral trade systems, he said.
In a concluding declaration, APEC leaders confirmed they reject all forms of protectionism and were committed to keeping markets open and refraining from establishing new barriers to investment or to trade in goods and services.
The leaders agreed to pursue growth which was balanced, inclusive and sustainable, supported by innovation and a knowledge-based economy, to ensure a durable recovery that would create jobs and benefit the people.
They also recognized the necessity to develop a new growth that would strengthen economic integration in the Asia-Pacific region.-