Commerce minister hopes all sides stick to APEC commitments
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Chinese Commerce Minister Chen Deming Thursday called on his colleagues at the APEC Ministerial Meeting to stick to the commitments made at a series of APEC Economic Leaders' Meetings and oppose all forms of protectionism and any measures to abuse the trade remedies provisions.
He said the impact of the global financial crisis is far from diminishing; therefore our resolve to fight trade protectionism can never be swayed. "We should take concrete measures to maintain an open, fair and just international trade environment to push for a swift economic recovery in the Asia-Pacific region," according to sources of the Chinese Commerce Ministry.
On the multilateral trading system and trade investment liberalization, Chen said based on the fundamental principles of voluntarism, consensus-building, the APEC has played an important role in pushing for the world economic recovery. In the 20 years evolution of the APEC, China has cooperated with other APEC economies based on mutual benefit and made progresses.
On the Doha Round of WTO negotiations which have entered the final stage, the minister said China is willing to cooperate with all sides to abide by the negotiating mandate, lock down achievements and strive for a comprehensive and balanced conclusion of the negotiation soon and realization of development goals.
The Bogor Goals are the solemn commitments made in 1994 by the then APEC economic leaders and are also the origin for APEC cooperation and the driving force for APEC development. Chen expressed the hope that the review of the Bogor Goals can be carried out smoothly as the goals' realization matters greatly with APEC's reputation and image.
In concluding his speech, Chen reiterated China's firm commitment to the economic integration and development of the Asia- Pacific region. He said China hopes to work with its partners actively to explore an effective and sustainable path for future development, so as to deepen trade investment liberalization and facilitation, and to make unremitting efforts to push for international trade liberalization and the balanced growth of the world economy.
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