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| What is Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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APEC's objectives are to promote sustainable economic growth and
development, to strengthen the multilateral trade system and to increase the
interdependence and prosperity of the member economies. APEC functions through intergovernmental dialogue, non-discriminatory unilateral actions and voluntary adherence to the decisions adopted by the Forum. The three pillars upon which the activities of APEC stand are: * The liberalization of trade and investment * Business facilitation * Technical and economic cooperation On this foundation, APEC members decided in 1994 to establish the Bogor Goals, which commit the most developed economies to achieve the complete liberalization of their foreign trade and investments by the year 2010, and the developing economies to do so by the year 2020. The Secretariat of APEC has its headquarters in Singapore and operates as a support mechanism for the entire APEC process. As the coordinator, the APEC Secretariat offers technical support and advice, and administers information and communications. About APEC |
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| APEC: Achievements and Benefits | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Economic Growth Since its inception in 1989, the APEC region has consistently been the most economically dynamic part of the world. In its first decade, APEC Member Economies generated nearly 70 percent of global economic growth and the APEC region consistently outperformed the rest of the world, even during the Asian financial crisis. APEC Member Economies work together to sustain this economic growth through a commitment to open trade, investment and economic reform. By progressively reducing tariffs and other barriers to trade, APEC Member Economies have become more efficient and exports have expanded dramatically. Benefits to the People in the APEC Region Consumers in Asia-Pacific have both directly and indirectly benefited from the collective and individual actions of APEC Member Economies. Some direct benefits include increased job opportunities, more training programmes, stronger social safety nets and poverty alleviation. More broadly however, APEC Member Economies on average enjoy lower cost of living because reduced trade barriers and a more economically competitive region lowers prices for goods and services that everyone needs on a daily basis, from food to clothes to mobile phones. |
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| APEC: Scope of Work | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) works in three broad areas to meet
the Bogor Goals of free and open trade and investment in the Asia-Pacific by
2010 for developed economies and 2020 for developing economies. Known as APEC's 'Three Pillars', APEC focuses on three key areas: * Trade and Investment Liberalisation * Business Facilitation * Economic and Technical Cooperation The outcomes of these three areas enable APEC Member Economies to strengthen their economies by pooling resources within the region and achieving efficiencies. Tangible benefits are also delivered to consumers in the APEC region through increased training and employment opportunities, greater choices in the marketplace, cheaper goods and services and improved access to international markets. Trade and Investment Liberalisation Trade and Investment Liberalisation reduces and eventually eliminates tariff and non-tariff barriers to trade and investment. Protectionism is expensive because it raises prices for goods and services. Thus, Trade and Investment Liberation focuses on opening markets to increase trade and investment among economies, resulting in economic growth for APEC Member Economies and increased standard of living for all. Business Facilitation Business Facilitation focuses on reducing the costs of business transactions, improving access to trade information and aligning policy and business strategies to facilitate growth, and free and open trade. Essentially, Business Facilitation helps importers and exporters in Asia Pacific meet and conduct business more efficiently, thus reducing costs of production and leading to increased trade, cheaper goods and services and more employment opportunities due to an expanded economy. Economic and Technical Cooperation (ECOTECH) ECOTECH is dedicated to providing training and cooperation to build capacities in all APEC Member Economies to take advantage of global trade and the New Economy. This area builds capacity at the institutional and personal level to assist APEC Member Economies and its people gain the necessary skills to meet their economic potential. |
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| APEC Member Economies | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The 21 members of APEC, called "Member Economies" or "Economies," are:
In addition to the members, three official observers attend:
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| Chairmanship of APEC | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The Chairmanship of APEC is rotated. The member economy that assumes the chairmanship in a particular year will be the host of the majority of the meetings of the Forum during that year, including the Leader's Summit. This is the calendar for the APEC chairmanship:
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| Peru and APEC | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Peru has been a full member of APEC since 1998. Its participation began at
the Meeting of Ministers in November of that year in Malaysia. The entrance of Peru into the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Forum is due to the coordinated efforts of representatives of the government and the business and academic communities. Peru developed a strategy that, together with visits of high-level public officials to the various Asia-Pacific economies, gained the support of the members in order to achieve this end. It is important to emphasize that Peru is the only member of the Andean Community that is member of APEC. The commercial exchange with the member economies of APEC has increased over time, and represents an important percentage of Peru's total trade. APEC PERU 2008 In November 2003, the Asia-Pacific leadership agreed to elect Peru as the site of the XVI Summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Forum in 2008. APEC 2008 represents the greatest challenge for Peru to raise the standards of its economy to that of the Asia-Pacific economies in terms of efficiency and competitiveness. The organization of this event is a joint initiative of the government and the private sector. It is an opportunity for developing trade, investment and tourism. |
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| APEC Peru 2008 Theme | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The following concept was chosen as the theme for the year of the Presidency
of Peru: “A new commitment to the Asia-Pacific Development” Broaden the participation of other players in the process of building the Asia-Pacific community, promoting the association among the public and private sectors (PPP), the inclusion of the representatives of civil society and the cooperation of the international financial institutions (IFI). Strengthen the focus on personal and economic development, to include an integral approach to the major issues that affect the region, such as energy security, personal security, climate change and sustainable economic growth. |
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| APEC Peru 2008 Taskforce | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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APEC 2008 High-Level Commission (CEAN) The APEC Peru 2008 High-Level Commission was created by means of Supreme Decree N° 013-2007-PCM, dated January 17, 2007. This Commission is in charge of the organization and logistic implementation of all the meetings that will take place throughout the APEC Peru 2008 Year, in which Peru will host the meetings of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum. The members of this Commission are: * The First Vice President of the Republic of Peru, who chairs it. * The Minister of Foreign Affairs. * The Minister of Foreign Trade and Tourism. * The Minister of Economy and Finance. The Commission is supported by the Executive Director, appointed by Supreme Resolution No. 098-2007-RE, dated March 29, 2007. This Director is in charge of the Taskforce, and is responsible for the coordination and supervision of the logistic support: provision of meeting venues, staff, accommodation, delegations’ services, protocol, media facilities, and other related support. The National Executive Commission (CEN) The National Executive Commission, created by Supreme Decree N° 175-2004-RE dated May 25, 2004, and presided by the Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, is in charge of assessing the content and objectives of the preliminary Action Plan to prepare for APEC Peru 2008 Year in 2008. It is responsible for the thematic agenda, the setting of priorities for this year, as well as determining the target objectives for that year. Besides the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, other members of the National Executive Commission include all the sectors that participate in the different APEC meetings, whether working groups, committees, or ministerial meetings. |
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| APEC 2008 Logo | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The APEC PERU 2008 logo is a creation of advertising designer Nilton
García Tejada (www.elcreator.com),
who in 2004 and as a designer from Vista Com, Comunicación y Marketing won
a contest convened by the Peruvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to design a
logo to identify Peru’s Chairmanship of the Asia Pacific Economic
Cooperation Forum in 2008.
The APEC PERU 2008 logo is a blend of strong modernity and history. The
red and white colors represent Peru, and its mysterious shapes remind us
of Machu Picchu, recognized as humankind’s cultural heritage and as one of
the seven wonders of the modern world.
The APEC PERU 2008 logo is solid, strong and audacious and whose fused
letters in a semantic harmony represent the Peruvian integration with the
people from around the world through the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation
Forum (APEC)
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| Peru: General Information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Sixteenth
APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting |
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| We, the Economic Leaders of the Asia-Pacific Economic
Cooperation (APEC) forum, gathered in Lima, Peru, under the theme: “A New
Commitment to Asia-Pacific Development”. The theme chosen for APEC 2008
highlights the importance of reducing the gap between developed and
developing member economies. We are committed to strengthening the social
dimension of globalization and ensuring that all members and all sectors of
our economies can access the skills and opportunities to participate in, and
benefit from, regional and global trade and investment.
The current global financial crisis is one of the most serious economic challenges we have ever faced. We will act quickly and decisively to address the impending global economic slowdown. We welcomed the monetary and fiscal stimulus provided by APEC member economies and will take all necessary economic and financial measures to resolve this crisis, taking the necessary actions to offer hope to those most in need. Our resolve to address the deteriorating global economic situation, and support a prompt, ambitious and balanced conclusion to the WTO Doha Development Agenda (DDA) negotiations, is outlined in a separate statement issued at this meeting. REGIONAL ECONOMIC CHALLENGES Advancing Regional Economic Integration Last year we agreed to an ambitious long-term agenda to strengthen regional economic integration. We welcomed the 2008 progress report from Ministers and officials on efforts to achieve this goal. We endorsed the 2009 work plan for the APEC Regional Economic Integration (REI) Agenda in order to build upon this year’s accomplishments on REI and to accelerate efforts in all areas of this agenda. Our goal of free and open trade and investment in the Asia-Pacific region will be achieved through a series of unilateral reform measures combined with bilateral, regional and multilateral liberalization. We are committed to continuing the implementation of APEC’s REI Agenda. In that regard, we: • welcomed progress made by member economies towards the Bogor Goals of free and open trade and investment in the Asia-Pacific region. We reinforced our commitment to achieving the Bogor Goals to promote growth, development and a rapid recovery from the current global slowdown. • we commended the progress made in examining the prospects and options of a possible Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP) as a long-term prospect. We noted advice from Ministers that while an FTAAP would likely be of economic benefit to the region as a whole, there would also be challenges in its creation. We instructed Ministers and officials to undertake further steps in examining the prospects and options of a possible FTAAP, including by conducting further analytical work on the likely economic impact of an FTAAP, and discussing the possible capacity building requirements for any possible future negotiations. In addition, we instructed officials to undertake initiatives designed to promote greater convergence among economies in key areas of APEC’s trade and investment portfolio, including areas such as customs administration, trade facilitation and cross-border services. • welcomed five new model measures, resulting in a set of 15 completed chapters for Regional Trade Agreements (RTAs) and Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) that will promote high-quality RTAs/FTAs and greater consistency and coherence among these agreements in the region. • endorsed the continued process of implementation of APEC’s second Trade Facilitation Action Plan (TFAP II) to achieve our stated goal of reducing trade transaction costs by an additional five percent between 2007 - 2010. • welcomed the APEC Investment Facilitation Action Plan (IFAP) to improve the investment environment in the region and commended the initiation of the study of bilateral investment agreements and core-investment-related activities of existing free-trade agreements. • emphasized the importance of strengthening financial markets in the region and welcomed the capacity building activities initiated by APEC Finance Ministers to reform capital markets. We recognized the pressing need for infrastructure development in APEC economies and welcomed the work undertaken by Finance Ministers on linkages between private public partnerships and capital market development. In this regard, we called on Finance Ministers to examine more fully the means to optimize linkages between private infrastructure finance and growth and development. • reaffirmed our commitment to strengthen the protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights (IPR) in the region, and reiterated the importance of comprehensive and balanced IPR systems that provide for and protect the incentives that encourage creation and innovation. We will continue to promote greater collaboration among our IPR experts and enforcement authorities. • we welcomed the progress by economies to implement the APEC Anti-Counterfeiting and Piracy Initiative as well as efforts to improve patent systems in the region and look forward to further progress in this area next year. • welcomed the Digital Prosperity Checklist as an important tool in APEC´s efforts to promote sustained economic growth through the use and development of information and communication technologies. We welcomed the views and work carried out by the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) on improving the business environment, and called for an active participation of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the REI agenda. We asked Ministers and officials to continue the implementation of the REI Agenda as outlined in the progress report and report back to us in 2009 with a summary of steps taken to promote this agenda. Noting the increased economic integration in the region, we also discussed Australia´s suggestions on how regional architecture can keep pace with changing circumstances. Implementing Structural Reform We agreed that our Leader’s Agenda to Implement Structural Reform (LAISR) is a central element of APEC’s agenda, integrating the three pillars of trade and investment liberalization, business facilitation, and economic and technical assistance and cooperation. We reiterated the fundamental importance of tackling ‘behind-the-border’ barriers to trade and investment in the creation of well-performing, resilient and robust economies. We welcomed the outcomes of the Structural Reform Ministerial Meeting (SRMM), held in Melbourne in August 2008 and noted the endorsement by Ministers of APEC’s Good Practice Guide on Regulatory Reform. We recognized the importance of developing a program of practical support for member economies to successfully undertake structural reform. This includes capacity building initiatives in the areas of regulatory reform, corporate governance and other LAISR areas. We encouraged active participation in the voluntary system of peer or self-review of our economies’ efforts to implement structural economic reform. We welcomed publication of the annual APEC Economic Policy Report and the accelerated work plan for Private Sector Development endorsed by Trade Ministers in June. Improving Food Security in the Asia-Pacific We are deeply concerned about the impact that volatile global food prices, combined with food shortages in some developing economies, are having on our achievements in reducing poverty and lifting real incomes over the last decade. The poor are especially vulnerable to increases in food prices. We support a fully coordinated response and a comprehensive strategy to tackle this issue through the Comprehensive Framework for Action developed by the United Nations (UN) Task Force on the Global Food Security Crisis. We will support the application and implementation of this Framework within the region, as appropriate. Individual and collective policy responses to expand food and agricultural supply in the region should strengthen market forces to encourage new investment in agricultural technology and production systems. A prompt, ambitious and balanced conclusion to the WTO DDA negotiations would deliver substantial improvements in market access and reduce market-distorting measures in global agricultural trade. We commended the work that APEC has undertaken in the area of food and agriculture, and welcome the work plan endorsed by APEC Ministers to refine and strengthen APEC’s agenda to meet current and emerging food security challenges. We also recognized the role of ABAC in raising the importance of food and agricultural issues on the APEC agenda. We directed APEC to increase technical cooperation and capacity building that will help foster agricultural sector growth, including efforts to increase food production; improve agricultural education; enhance natural resource management; promote the development of next generation biofuels made from non-food materials; build well-functioning markets and regulatory institutions; and make food storage, transportation, and distribution systems more efficient. We pledged cooperation to bolster conditions conducive to promoting agricultural research and development. We directed APEC to help member economies develop science-based regulatory frameworks to benefit from the potential of agricultural biotechnology. ADDRESSING THE SOCIAL DIMENSION OF GLOBALIZATION Promoting Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in the Asia-Pacific We stressed that globalization based on economic, social and
environmental progress can bring sustainable benefits to all APEC economies,
their business sectors and their people. CSR can reinforce the positive
effects that trade and investment have on growth, competitiveness and
sustainable development. We encourage responsible and transparent business
conduct that adheres to local legislation and regulations and takes into
account guidelines related to CSR that have been developed by multilateral
bodies, as appropriate. Combating Corruption in the Region Corruption in both the public and private sectors is a serious threat to
social and economic development in the region. We recognize that when
criminal entities collude with corrupt public and private sector officials,
it results in a culture of impunity and financial exploitation of the
legitimate economy. We agreed to leverage our collective will to combat
corruption and related transnational illicit networks by promoting clean
government, supporting public-private partnerships, fostering market
integrity, and transparent financial systems. We recognize that the
criminalization of corruption can facilitate greater regional cooperation.
We welcomed the Lima Anti-Corruption Declaration on Financial Market Integrity through Effective Public-Private Partnerships and the APEC Guidelines for Public-Private Action against Corruption. Strengthening Cooperation and Capacity Building in APEC APEC’s program of Economic and Technical Cooperation (ECOTECH) is essential to achieving our objective of building capacity in a range of sectors in APEC economies. We reaffirmed our commitment to the Manila Framework, which serves as the basis for the implementation of the ECOTECH activities outlined in the Osaka Action Agenda. We welcomed contributions from economies to APEC’s capacity building programmes. We welcomed China’s proposal to host the 5th APEC Human Resources Development Ministerial Meeting in 2010. Ensuring that all members of our economies receive a quality education is critical to achieving social, individual, economic and sustainable development. It enables people to take advantage of the opportunities created by globalization. We supported the efforts of APEC Education Ministers to strengthen education systems in the region including ongoing support to the APEC Education Network. We welcomed the research-based steps taken by APEC in the areas of mathematics and science; language learning; career and technical education/technical vocational education and training; and information and communication technologies (ICT) and systemic reform. We support the recommendation of Education Ministers to facilitate international exchanges, working towards reciprocal exchanges of talented students, graduates and researchers. We reaffirmed our commitment to build regional capacity to minimize health-related threats including avian and human influenza pandemics and communicable diseases such as HIV/AIDS. We welcomed continuing efforts to ensure economies are well prepared to deal with health threats and to respond to them in a way that minimizes their adverse impacts on human welfare, trade and investment. We reaffirmed our commitment to improve food and product safety standards and practices to facilitate trade and ensure the health and safety of our populations. We endorsed the work of the APEC Food Safety Cooperation Forum’s Partnership Training Institute Network and called on Ministers to take additional steps to enhance food and product safety next year. We are concerned that gender discrimination continues to have a significant impact on our economies. We committed to strengthening the capacity of APEC members to ensure that gender considerations are taken into account in the development of trade and economic policy, and to ensuring that the region’s women are better able to participate in and benefit from regional and global trade. ENHANCING HUMAN SECURITY IN THE REGION Combating Terrorism and Securing Regional Trade Enhancing human security and protecting the region’s business and trade against natural, accidental or deliberate disruptions remains an enduring priority for APEC, and an essential enabling element in APEC’s core trade and investment agenda. We agreed that international terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery pose a direct threat to our vision of free, open, peaceful and prosperous societies, and reaffirmed our commitment to eliminate these threats. Since 2001, we have worked together with a common understanding that all terrorist acts are criminal and unjustifiable, and must be unequivocally condemned, especially when they target or injure civilians, or use the abhorrent practices of suicide bombing and hostage taking. Terrorism in all forms and manifestations, committed by whomever, wherever and for whatever purposes, is a profound threat to the peace and security of all people, and of all faiths. Terrorist acts cannot be excused or justified by any alleged cause, conflict, oppression, or poverty. We agreed that terrorist attempts to abuse or corrupt trade flows, finance, transportation, travel communications and modern technologies will not be tolerated. We pledged our full cooperation to ensure that the flow of people, goods and investments remained secure and open, and that economies and markets operated without disruption. We welcomed the initiative of a group of member economies led by Singapore to undertake a Trade Recovery Programme pilot exercise in 2009. We recognized the important role played by the UN and its Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy. We stressed the need for implementation, where applicable, of UN counter-terrorism measures and the Financial Action Task Force’s (FATF) Special Recommendations on Terrorist Financing. We urged APEC Ministers and officials to continue to help secure the region’s economic, trade, investment and financial systems from terrorist attack or abuse and trade-based money laundering. We welcomed the ongoing efforts of the international community to combat piracy and armed robbery at sea and encouraged further concerted efforts to fight against piracy. Disaster Risk Reduction, Preparedness and Management The frequency and intensity of natural disasters related to the distortion of climate patterns in the region is increasing and the location of, and growth of, cities and mega-cities in vulnerable areas increases the impact of catastrophic events. Improving risk reduction, disaster preparedness and management in the region is a critical human security issue facing the region. We agreed that the challenges in this area are significant and growing in complexity and required greater international cooperation and coordination with the private sector, international organizations and non-government organizations. We recognized that there continues to be operational challenges in regional disaster responses and greater coordination is needed as the number of disaster management arrangements and players in the region continues to grow. We agreed that greater focus is needed on disaster risk reduction, emergency preparedness and building domestic disaster management capabilities. In this regard, we welcomed the adoption of an APEC Strategy for Disaster Risk Reduction and Emergency Preparedness and Response initiated by Peru; the APEC Principles on Disaster Response and Cooperation proposed by China; the Stocktake on Disaster Management Capacity Building Needs; and welcomed the Australia-Indonesia proposal for a Disaster Risk Reduction Facility and its linkages to APEC economies and the APEC Task Force on Emergency Preparedness. We endorsed the priority APEC has given to promoting risk management, business resilience and public-private sector partnerships, and supported efforts to prepare economies for the recovery phase. We instructed officials to undertake long-term capacity building projects aimed at accelerating recovery in disaster affected areas in APEC economies and supported the inclusion of education on disaster issues in school curricula where appropriate. CLIMATE CHANGE, ENERGY SECURITY AND CLEAN DEVELOPMENT Our ability to successfully confront the challenge of climate change will be crucial to the wellbeing of future generations. As a global issue, climate change must be addressed in a comprehensive manner, through international cooperation under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in 2009. Reducing poverty is likely to become more difficult in those developing economies most vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change and related natural disasters. We reaffirmed our commitment to the Sydney APEC Leaders’ Declaration on Climate Change, Energy Security and Clean Development. We support decisive and effective long term cooperation now, up to and beyond 2012 to address climate change under the UNFCCC, in accordance with the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities. We welcomed decisions taken by the international community at the UN Climate Change Conference in Bali in 2007 and the efforts to build a consensus on long term cooperative action, including a global emission reduction goal. We also noted the declaration in this regard by the G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit held in July this year. We recognize the economic diversity and different domestic circumstances of individual APEC economies in addressing climate change. We reaffirmed our commitment to the Action Agenda announced as part of the Sydney Declaration. We appreciate and encourage the efforts of individual APEC economies to meet these goals. We also welcomed the establishment of the Asia-Pacific Network for sustainable Forest Management and Rehabilitation (APFNet) and appreciate China’s commitment to further financial support for this initiative. We expressed support for the cooperation and capacity building for climate change mitigation and adaptation, including those that promote the development and deployment of clean technologies. We appreciate Australia, Japan and the United States' financial support for the Climate Investment Funds, particularly the Clean Technology Fund. We recognized the value of conservation, sustainable forests management and land use practices and enhancement of carbon stocks in forests and agricultural soils for carbon sequestration in the global response to climate change. Recognizing that climate change could impede economies’ abilities to achieve sustainable economic growth and reduce poverty, we strongly support international cooperation and capacity building for mitigation and adaptation as objectives that should be equally pursued, including those that promote low-emissions technology development and transfer to, and financial support for, developing economies. We also call for additional and coordinated efforts to better understand vulnerabilities caused by the impact of climate change on our oceans and their resources to develop more effective adaptation strategies. We endorsed the positive contribution of the Major Economies Leaders’ Declaration to the UNFCCC. We committed to concerted action under the UN and complementary processes to reach an equitable and effective post-2012 international climate change arrangement at the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen in December 2009. Conscious that access to adequate, reliable, clean and affordable energy resources is vital to sustaining economic prosperity in the region, we reaffirmed our commitment to supporting the energy needs of regional economies by promoting open energy markets and free energy trade and investment. Such markets are crucial to the development of renewable sources of energy and the dissemination of low emission energy technologies, including new and alternative energy resources and technologies. We encouraged our officials to promote such developments and urge them to pursue regional energy efficiencies and maximize the potential development of clean energy technology. Strengthening APEC APEC is the pre-eminent forum for economic cooperation in the region. We are committed to strengthening APEC’s institutional processes to ensure it remains responsive to a rapidly changing global environment. Cooperative action within APEC can contribute to better outcomes on the major international challenges we face. We welcomed advice from APEC Ministers on the successful establishment of a Policy Support Unit in the APEC Secretariat as well as progress on the appointment of an Executive Director of the APEC Secretariat for a fixed term. We endorsed in full the Joint Statement of Ministers at the 20th APEC Ministerial Meeting. We welcomed the offer of Indonesia to host APEC in 2013. We welcomed the invitation from the Prime Minister of Singapore to meet again in Singapore in 2009. |
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