APEC Customs-Business Dialogue Begins in Shanghai


APEC Customs-Business Dialogue Opens in Shanghai
More than 500 businessmen and customs officials from 21 members of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) attended the 7th APEC Customs-Business Dialogue (ACBD), which begins Monday in Shanghai.

The theme of the current ACBD, one of the series of APEC meetings in China this year, is "The New Economy -- Moving Customs- Business Partnership and Trade Facilitation to the Next Level."

Participants of the dialog will discuss three topics: " Advancing the Customs Trade Facilitation Strategy to Meet New Challenges," "Implications of E-Commerce and Paperless Trading on Customs and Business" and "Convergence of Customs and Business -- Our Shared Goal in Maintaining Economic Competitiveness."

Chinese State Councilor Wu Yi will give a keynote speech, and Mayor of Shanghai Xu Kuangdi, Director of China's General Administration of Customs Mou Xinsheng and President of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade Yu Xiaosong will also make speeches at the opening ceremony.



APEC, a forum for the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation

APEC has 21 members -- Australia; Brunei; Canada; Chile; China; Hongkong, China; Indonesia; Japan; Malaysia; Mexico; New Zealand; Papua New Guinea; Peru; the Philippines; the Republic of Korea; Russia; Singapore; Chinese Taipei; Thailand; the United States and Viet Nam.

The purpose of the APEC meeting is to promote free trade and Asia Pacific cooperation in the fields of economy, trade, investment and technology.

On Nov. 14, 1991, the APEC issued the "Seoul Declaration" at its third ministerial meeting in Seoul, defines the objectives of APEC, its scope of activity and mode of operation among its 15 members.

The objectives of APEC, the Declaration said, are "to enhance the positive gains, both for the region and the world economy, resulting from increasing economic interdependence; to develop and strengthen the open multilateral trading system; and to reduce barriers to trade in goods and services and investment."






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