APEC meeting ends; Jiang talks on trade and anti-terror
( 2002-10-28 11:04 ) (8 )

Mexican President Vincente Fox (R) talks with President Jiang Zemin while Malaysian deputy PM Abdullah Bin Haji Ahmed Badawi looks on during a joint declaration at the APEC meeting in Mexico, October 27, 2002.[Reuters]

Leaders of the 21-member Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), winding up their two-day informal meeting at this Mexican resort on Sunday, vowed to further cooperate in terrorism combat and facilitate global trade talks under the auspices of the World Trade Organization (WTO).

"Given the risks and difficulties in global and regional economies, it is all the more essential to strengthen coordination and cooperation one another," President Jiang Zemin told the meeting.

"We should all adopt down-to-earth fiscal and monetary policies, regulate and stabilize the market, and restore the investor and consumer confidence with a view to promoting economic growth," Jiang said.

He urged the developed countries to take the lead in actions and shoulder greater responsibilities.

Jiang called for more efforts to support an open global multilateral trading system and move Doha Round forward. "A sound multilateral trading system and fair trading environment are key guarantees for a sustained and steady growth of world trade," Jiang said.

WTO contracting parties should adopt a "more pragmatic attitude, bearing in mind their common interests," Jiang said.

"The needs of the developing countries should be given top consideration so that the new round of trade negotiations will truly become one for development," he added. "This makes it essential for APEC to have an in-depth exchange of views on the major issues of the new round of negotiations."

He also urged APEC members to resist trade protectionism and create conditions favorable for economic growth and the healthy development of the multi-lateral trading system.

This year's APEC meeting took place following a recent deadly terrorist attack in the Indonesian island of Bali, several bombings in the Philippines and hostage-taking in Moscow, resulting in over 100 deaths.

Addressing the second session, Chinese President Jiang Zemin said on Sunday that efforts should be made to strengthen anti-terror cooperation so as to create an environment of peace and security for the region's development and prosperity.

"Peace is the important prerequisite for global and regional economic growth, whereas terrorism is posing a serious threat to world peace," he said.

At Saturday's session, Jiang said: "Terrorism, no matter where it occurs or what form it takes, is a common threat to the whole mankind."

"If allowed to run amuck, that scourge will make peace and security impossible, and economic development out of the question, " Jiang said.

When APEC leaders met in Shanghai last year following the September 11 attacks on the US, they issued a joint statement on anti-terror. That meeting is "a good, solid beginning," Jiang said.

"China is a victim to terrorism," Jiang told the meeting. "We strongly condemn and oppose terrorism in all forms and manifestations."

According to the Chinese president, China has agreed to join the Container Security Initiative and welcome such initiatives as the "Secure Trade in the APEC Region" within the APEC cooperation framework and "will continue to firmly support and vigorously participate in the international counter-terrorism cooperation."

APEC, set up in 1989, now groups Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, China, Chinese Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Chinese Taipei, Thailand, the United States and Vietnam.

The first Economic Leaders' Meeting of the forum took place in Seattle, the United States, in 1993 and later it rotated in different member economies. The ninth meeting was convened in Shanghai, China.