APEC leaders hail Osaka pact, praise host<\/p>\n
OSAKA, Japan (JP): Most APEC leaders hailed the Action Agenda
\non free trade and other agreements reached here yesterday, while
\npraising Japan for the successful outcome of the summit, their
\nthird in the last three years.<\/p>\n
President Soeharto, according to Minister\/State Secretary
\nMoerdiono, was satisfied with the outcome of the meeting.<\/p>\n
\"With the completion of the agenda in Osaka, the leaders have
\ntaken a step forward,\" Moerdiono said.<\/p>\n
Soeharto, whose leadership ensured the endorsement of the
\nBogor Declaration during APEC's previous meeting in 1994,
\nattributed the success of the Osaka meeting to the personal
\nleadership of Japanese Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama.<\/p>\n
The head of state was also elated at the \"initial plans\"
\npresented by each APEC leader at the meeting, Moerdiono said.<\/p>\n
\"This is an historic step forward in fulfilling the APEC
\ncommitment to attain free trade in the Asia-Pacific,\" U.S. Vice
\nPresident Al Gore said, describing Murayama's leadership in APEC
\nas \"truly exceptional.\"<\/p>\n
\"For the American people, this is a truly significant
\nachievement, since our economic growth and prosperity are
\nincreasingly linked to this dynamic region,\" said Gore, who was
\nhere to represent President Bill Clinton. \"President Clinton and
\nthe other leaders in the United States are deeply committed to
\nAPEC and the Asia-Pacific region,\" he added.<\/p>\n
Philippine President Fidel Ramos, who will chair the forum and
\nhost next year's summit, praised the Action Agenda for putting
\nequal emphasis on trade liberalization and facilitation, as well
\nas economic development cooperation.<\/p>\n
\"We, the developing countries, are very encouraged by
\nthis,\" Ramos said, adding that in 1996, \"we have to chart the way
\nfor member economies so that people progress into the 21st
\ncentury and beyond.\"<\/p>\n
Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien said the initial actions
\npresented a \"win-win\" situation for his country.<\/p>\n
\"It's a win-win proposal for Canada,\" Chretien said. \"It was
\nvery pleasant to see the leaders of China, Australia, New
\nZealand, all these countries, read out their voluntary measures
\non tariffs and non-tariff barriers.\"<\/p>\n
\"When you come to think of it, this region was full of
\nprotectionist countries. When you see leaders like Indonesian
\nPresident Soeharto speak energetically about liberalization, you
\nbegin to see real enthusiasm in this forum,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Australian Prime Minister Paul Keating said the Osaka
\ndeclaration was a \"high quality piece of policy-making\" that did
\nnot paper over differences just to get an agreement.<\/p>\n
The wording approved by APEC leaders was \"almost strange, it
\nis so direct,\" said Keating.<\/p>\n
Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, described by
\nReuters as the \"reigning skeptic of APEC\", reiterated that his
\ncountry was not bound by the agenda.<\/p>\n
\"We are not held down to this date, and don't believe we have
\nto abolish tariffs by that date,\" Mahathir told reporters.<\/p>\n
\"We should abolish tariffs based on our ability to do so,\" he
\nsaid, adding that Malaysia prefers to make its binding
\ncommitments on trade to the World Trade Organization, not APEC.<\/p>\n
\"APEC is not going to set a new paradigm as far as trade is
\nconcerned,\" Mahathir said. \"What APEC can do is hasten the
\nprocess of liberalization.<\/p>\n
\"APEC can only push countries to accelerate (liberalization)
\nbecause APEC is not a closed trade bloc.\"<\/p>\n
Host and chairman Murayama underlined that the agenda would
\nnot turn APEC into a closed economic bloc that would benefit only
\nits member economies.<\/p>\n
\"When we think of the economy on a global basis, now is not
\nthe time when we should build regional walls around trade and
\ninvestment,\" Murayama told a news conference.<\/p>\n
Asked if APEC would ask for reciprocity from other regions
\nsuch as the European Union, Murayama said APEC measures should
\nbenefit other economies.<\/p>\n
\"When trade and investment liberalization and facilitation,
\nand economic and technological cooperation are implemented in
\nAPEC, we should also bring the benefits to extra-regional
\nmembers,\" Murayama said. (emb)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/apec-leaders-hail-osaka-pact-praise-host-1447893297",
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