APEC declares free trade

APEC declares free trade

By Meidyatama Suryodiningrat

BOGOR, West Java (JP): Economic leaders of the Asia Pacific
Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum yesterday unanimously adopted
the Bogor Declaration committing themselves to comprehensive
trade liberalization in the region by the year 2020.

"The long term objective of intensifying closer trade and
investment cooperation in the Asia- Pacific is open and free
trade and investment," President Soeharto said here yesterday.

"Advanced countries will achieve this objective no later than
the year 2010 and the developing countries no later than the year
2020," Soeharto explained after closing the APEC Economic Leaders
Meeting (AELM) at the Bogor Presidential Palace yesterday
afternoon.

The APEC leaders gathered here for a five-hour meeting to
determine the direction of the economic vision they adopted at
their first meeting in Seattle in November last year.

APEC comprises Australia, Canada, Chile, China, Hong Kong,
Japan, South Korea, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Taiwan
and the United States, along with members of the Association of
Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) -- Malaysia, Thailand, the
Philippines, Brunei, Singapore and Indonesia.

Hong Kong and Taiwan were represented by high ranking
officials.

In a "Declaration of Common Resolve" the leaders announced
their commitment to establish freer trade based on open
regionalism.

"We have set the course and the direction of the future
economic cooperation in the Asia-Pacific area in particular and
in the world in general," Soeharto said.

The initial suggestion of such dates first came out when a
special APEC task force, the Eminent Persons Group (EPG),
released their report at the end of August calling on the leaders
to adopt a concrete deadline for trade liberalization.

Chaired by American Fred Bergsten, the EPG comprises non-
governmental experts from the forum's members.

The declaration itself was drafted by President Soeharto with
the aid of his special assistant to APEC affairs, Bintoro
Tjokroamidjojo.

In their 11-point declaration the leaders' affirmed their
opposition to APEC becoming an inward looking, exclusive
regional bloc.

"We are determined to pursue free and open trade and
investment in Asia- Pacific in a manner that will encourage and
strengthen trade and investment liberalization in the world," the
leaders said in their declaration.

He added that the details on how to achieve trade
liberalization would be left to ministers to work out.

WTO

Elaborating on the foundations of APEC's free trade area,
Soeharto rejected suggestions that APEC would subscribe to closed
regionalism.

"APEC is certainly not a closed regional cooperation because
we would like to open the cooperation not only to Asia-Pacific
countries but also to the world in general," he noted.

The declaration also stipulated the leaders' determination
that the Bogor meeting should be a catalyst in promoting the
prompt ratification of the World Trade Organization which is
scheduled to operate next year.

Apart from focussing on issues of trade and investment the
leaders' statement also stressed the need for cooperation as a
means of sustaining growth and equitable economic development.

The areas stipulated in the declaration include human
resources, the environment, science and technology, and the
development of economic infrastructure.

At the end of his statement Soeharto said that the leaders had
further agreed to meet again in Japan next year for a third AELM.

"The forthcoming meeting of the economic leaders will be held
in Japan in the year 1995."

Batik

The closing statement at the southern pavilion of the Bogor
palace began 30 minutes earlier than expected yesterday.

Irawan Abidin, who moderated the leaders' briefing, said the
leaders finished early because there was nothing of contention to
talk about.

"It was so smooth," said Irawan, who is director of Foreign
Information Affairs at the Indonesian foreign ministry, in
reference to the leaders meeting, which was held behind closed
doors.

The leaders, clad in designer batik shirts, were seated for
the press briefing, while Soeharto, as chairman, stood in front
to brief journalists on the results of the meeting.

Due to the limited time, only eight journalists were given an
opportunity to ask questions. The questioners were divided by
geographic representation. They were from Indonesia, North
America, Latin America, Japan, Australia, Europe, China and an
ASEAN country, with one from the Middle East.

Despite being instructed not to raise issues beyond the realm
of APEC, an American journalist used her opportunity to raise the
issue of East Timor.

Soeharto dodged the question saying that Indonesia would
explain the situation at another opportunity.

Surprisingly, representatives from Latin America, Europe and
China did not use the valuable opportunity to pose any questions.

"Maybe they've gone home," remarked President Soeharto when
no one answered Irawan Abidin's call to have the European
representative come forward with a question.

Editorial -- Page 4

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