Sustainable Development, Trade, Security Dominate APEC Talks

SANTIAGO, Chile, November 22, 2004 (ENS) - Sustainable development through trade and investment liberalization, strengthening security and fighting disease formed the core of declaration that emerged from the 12th meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, held in Santiago over the weekend. Leaders called for promoting structural reform in the region and increasing economic and technical cooperation.

President George W. Bush and President Jintao Hu of China at their bilateral meeting in Santiago. (Photos courtesy The White House)

"We called upon our officials to advance toward an APEC Sustainable Development Framework, that will build on the work being carried out by APEC and ensure that the growth and development of the region is enjoyed by future generations," they declared. The officials were instructed to report on progress towards sustainable development by the next APEC meeting in 2005.

While it was not in the official declaration, a senior Bush administration official, brieifng reporters in Santiago said all APEC leaders had made a commitment to implement, conclude, or aim to conclude an Additional Protocol with the International Atomic Energy Agency by the end of 2005.

President Bush meets with South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun at the APEC summit in Santiago.

President Bush told reporters after his meeting with the Japanese leader that the United States remains committed to the Six-Party talks in dealing with North Korea's nuclear program. "The leader of North Korea will hear a common voice," Bush said.

Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin stood firm Sunday on his vision for reforming world institutions despite skepticism expressed by President Bush. Martin wants to gather the G-8 countries and the leaders of 12 other developing economic powers like India, China, Brazil and South Korea into a group he calls the L-20. The Canadian won support from China but Bush cold-shouldered the idea.

All the APEC leaders launched the "Santiago Initiative for Expanded Trade in APEC," which will focus on capacity building in the areas of trade and investment liberalization and trade facilitation, and endorsed the "Santiago Commitment to Fight Corruption and Ensure Transparency."

President Bush shares a smile with Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin after their bilateral meeting in Santiago.

The leaders also expressed support for World Trade Organization accession for Russia and Vietnam as soon as possible.

To enhance human security, which the leaders declared is the underpinning for economic growth, they pledged to cooperate in advancing compliance with te International Maritime Organization's new Ship and Port Security Standards.

The leaders declared they would seek progress in implementing business mobility initiatives, including the Advance Passenger Information systems, the development of a Regional Movement Alert List System, and cooperation for the issuance of machine readable travel documents by 2008.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and President Bush after their bilateral meeting in Santiago

"We expect to review progress on our commitments to dismantle trans-national terrorist groups, eliminate the danger posed by proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, their delivery systems and related items, and confront other direct threats to the security of our region in the future," the leaders declared.

They endorsed an initiative to fight AIDS and pledged their political commitment to work together, at the regional and global levels, to combat the further spread of the AIDS pandemic, increase access to health care and provide safe and affordable drugs for all people living with AIDS.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has a Russian bear hug for outgoing U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell in Santiago.

Part of that effort is a U.S. initiative with Singapore to establish a Regional Emerging Disease Intervention Center to provide training and research to build regional capacity to prevent and respond to disease outbreaks and bioterror attacks.

"We also welcomed and endorsed the strategic plan to promote life sciences innovation in the region to improve the health and well-being of our people," the leaders declared.

And finally, the APEC Declaration promises to keep energy prices as low as possible. "As a response to global concerns about high oil prices, and in keeping with our commitment to promote energy security, sustainable development and common prosperity within the APEC region, we instructed energy ministers to continue to implement and enhance the "APEC Energy Security Initiative," the leaders said.