APEC leaders hail Osaka pact, praise host
APEC leaders hail Osaka pact, praise host
OSAKA, Japan (JP): Most APEC leaders hailed the Action Agenda
on free trade and other agreements reached here yesterday, while
praising Japan for the successful outcome of the summit, their
third in the last three years.
President Soeharto, according to Minister/State Secretary
Moerdiono, was satisfied with the outcome of the meeting.
"With the completion of the agenda in Osaka, the leaders have
taken a step forward," Moerdiono said.
Soeharto, whose leadership ensured the endorsement of the
Bogor Declaration during APEC's previous meeting in 1994,
attributed the success of the Osaka meeting to the personal
leadership of Japanese Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama.
The head of state was also elated at the "initial plans"
presented by each APEC leader at the meeting, Moerdiono said.
"This is an historic step forward in fulfilling the APEC
commitment to attain free trade in the Asia-Pacific," U.S. Vice
President Al Gore said, describing Murayama's leadership in APEC
as "truly exceptional."
"For the American people, this is a truly significant
achievement, since our economic growth and prosperity are
increasingly linked to this dynamic region," said Gore, who was
here to represent President Bill Clinton. "President Clinton and
the other leaders in the United States are deeply committed to
APEC and the Asia-Pacific region," he added.
Philippine President Fidel Ramos, who will chair the forum and
host next year's summit, praised the Action Agenda for putting
equal emphasis on trade liberalization and facilitation, as well
as economic development cooperation.
"We, the developing countries, are very encouraged by
this," Ramos said, adding that in 1996, "we have to chart the way
for member economies so that people progress into the 21st
century and beyond."
Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien said the initial actions
presented a "win-win" situation for his country.
"It's a win-win proposal for Canada," Chretien said. "It was
very pleasant to see the leaders of China, Australia, New
Zealand, all these countries, read out their voluntary measures
on tariffs and non-tariff barriers."
"When you come to think of it, this region was full of
protectionist countries. When you see leaders like Indonesian
President Soeharto speak energetically about liberalization, you
begin to see real enthusiasm in this forum," he said.
Australian Prime Minister Paul Keating said the Osaka
declaration was a "high quality piece of policy-making" that did
not paper over differences just to get an agreement.
The wording approved by APEC leaders was "almost strange, it
is so direct," said Keating.
Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, described by
Reuters as the "reigning skeptic of APEC", reiterated that his
country was not bound by the agenda.
"We are not held down to this date, and don't believe we have
to abolish tariffs by that date," Mahathir told reporters.
"We should abolish tariffs based on our ability to do so," he
said, adding that Malaysia prefers to make its binding
commitments on trade to the World Trade Organization, not APEC.
"APEC is not going to set a new paradigm as far as trade is
concerned," Mahathir said. "What APEC can do is hasten the
process of liberalization.
"APEC can only push countries to accelerate (liberalization)
because APEC is not a closed trade bloc."
Host and chairman Murayama underlined that the agenda would
not turn APEC into a closed economic bloc that would benefit only
its member economies.
"When we think of the economy on a global basis, now is not
the time when we should build regional walls around trade and
investment," Murayama told a news conference.
Asked if APEC would ask for reciprocity from other regions
such as the European Union, Murayama said APEC measures should
benefit other economies.
"When trade and investment liberalization and facilitation,
and economic and technological cooperation are implemented in
APEC, we should also bring the benefits to extra-regional
members," Murayama said. (emb)