APEC Meeting Shatters Claim of Talking Shop: Japanese OfficialJapan's senior official Kojiro Shiojiri to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting in Shanghai has applauded the APEC approach as an effective way to bring its member economies together, according to the APEC Newsletter published by the China Secretariat for APEC 2001 Tuesday."The unique approach of APEC is more suitable to promoting cooperation among member economies for the economic growth of this region," said Shiojiri, refuting the derogatory assertion that APEC is merely a talking shop which puts more stress on words than deeds. "APEC has its own history, background, value and principles," the official said, adding that it is a major objective of APEC to strengthen the economy and help member economies attain sustainable economic growth through cooperation. "Most APEC member economies, including Japan, are facing a difficult economic situation," he said. "That's why the topic of combating economic slowdown has been picked up at APEC meetings this year." Leaders of the APEC member economies will deliberate on the current global economic situation during their upcoming meeting in Shanghai, said Shiojiri. The ministerial meeting prior to that will discuss specific issues like trade and investment liberalization and facilitation, economic and technical cooperation and what member economies can do to attain sustainable economic growth. Leaders will also discuss anti-terrorism issues which have moved into the spotlight after the terrorist attacks in the United States on September 11. But Shiojiri said anti-terrorism will not overshadow the trade issue which has been a priority topic for APEC meetings since the beginning of this year. "We should overcome the terrorism impact," he said. The leaders should show their strong determination to cope with both the economic slowdown and the terrorism issue, he added. |
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