JP\/6\/OTHER<\/p>\n
APEC must move ahead<\/p>\n
The Santiago summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation
\n(APEC) forum has ended. Few specifics emerged, but that is not
\nthe chief value of these annual gatherings. Above all, they
\nprovide a convenient opportunity for the leaders of 21 member
\neconomies surrounding the Pacific Ocean to meet.<\/p>\n
APEC summits, despite the 'Economic' in the grouping's name,
\nhave become as much political as economic affairs. This is
\nunderstandable given the fact that the organization has no
\ndecision-making authority, and many of the nations involved have
\nhad little substantial dealings with one another.<\/p>\n
In these circumstances, it is only natural that political
\nintegration becomes as much a requisite for, as a by-product of,
\neconomic integration. In recent years, APEC leaders have wrestled
\nwith the problems posed by terrorism and the proliferation of
\nweapons of mass destruction, and this year they turned to North
\nKorea's nuclear program. But as important as are these political
\nissues, APEC should not lose sight of its fundamental economic
\nraison d'etre.<\/p>\n
In the long term, nothing would contribute as much to regional
\npolitical stability as a steady advance towards regional economic
\nintegration.<\/p>\n
-- The Straits Times, Singapore<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/jp6other-1447899208", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }