Leaders of the 21 member economies of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) wrapped up their two-day meeting in Hanoi 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, "We pledged 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.

 

 

 

 

 

(Xinhua News Agency November 19, 2006)