APEC leaders vow to boost fight vs terrorism
DA NANG, Vietnam – Pacific Rim leaders have pledged to boost efforts in fighting terrorism and terror financing as well as boosting disaster preparedness and response during a summit in Vietnam.
In the Da Nang Declaration issued at the end of the summit, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) leaders have recognized the lingering terror threat and disaster risks that threaten regional peace, security and growth.
“We express concern over the growing threat of terrorism in the APEC region, which stems from ISIL, Al-Qaida and other terrorist organizations,” the leaders said in the statement on Saturday.
The terror threat is being “exacerbated by the cross-border travel of foreign terrorist fighters and emerging sources and channels of terrorist financing,” according to the leaders.
“APEC economies commit to continually and effectively respond to the terrorist challenges in the region and their economic impact, as guided by APEC’s strategy to secure supply chains, travel, finance, and infrastructure,” they added.
The APEC leaders have also affirmed to step up efforts in improving resiliency to disasters, admitting that the region was “highly exposed to natural disasters.”
“We commit to strengthen cooperation, including with the private sector, to enhance resilience to disasters through effective mitigation, preparedness, disaster risk reduction, response and recovery efforts,” they said.
“This includes advancement in policy, innovation, science and technology, business continuity planning, early warning systems, and search and rescue. We underline the importance of financial instruments and policies against disaster risks,” they added.
The security and safety issues have been raised as the APEC leaders have pledged to attain a “peaceful, stable, dynamic, inter-connected and prosperous Asia-Pacific community.”
Regional integration The leaders also vowed to take “bolder and sustained” efforts to deepen regional integration and promote sustainable, innovative and inclusive growth.
The APEC economic leaders wrapped up this year’s summit with a promise to also improve the competitiveness of small businesses and enhance food security and sustainable agriculture.
“We, the Leaders of APEC, gathered in Da Nang, Viet Nam under the theme Creating New Dynamism, Fostering a Shared Future, determined to take bolder and sustained collective actions to inject new dynamism into APEC cooperation to promote sustainable, innovative and inclusive growth, deepen regional economic integration, realize the full potential of the business sector, particularly micro, small and mediumsized enterprises (MSMEs), and enhance food security and sustainable agriculture,” the statement read. The leaders recognized that global economic recovery was on “firmer footing” but medium and long-term risks remain.
They claimed that the fourth industrial revolution and advancements in technology were altering the nature of work and transforming how societies connect and interact. Trade and investment have also brought unprecedented prosperity to the Asia-Pacific region “but serious challenges persist,” according to the leaders.
“We, therefore, recommit to our common purpose – to foster a shared future of a peaceful, stable, dynamic, interconnected and prosperous Asia-Pacific community,” the leaders said.
“We reaffirm our support for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, as a framework for inclusive growth,” they added.
On promoting innovative growth, inclusion and sustainable employment, the leaders vowed to continue to pursue structural reform, including ease of doing business, enhance energy security and promote quality education.
Fight against corruption They also reaffirmed to pursue efforts in "fighting corruption and bribery, and denying safe havens for corrupt officials and stolen assets.”
On creating new drivers for regional integration, the APEC leaders committed to attaining the Bogor Goals of free and open trade and investment in the Asia Pacific region.
They also promised to strive for a climate conducive to investment and job creation and combat protectionism.
“We recall our pledge to extend our standstill commitment until the end of 2020 and recommit to fight protectionism, including all unfair trade practices, recognizing the role of legitimate trade defense instruments,” they said.
The leaders also welcomed the adoption of the APEC Internet and Digital Economy Roadmap and the APEC Framework on Cross-border Ecommerce Facilitation.
“We will work together to realize the potential of the Internet and digital economy, including through appropriate regulatory and policy frameworks, and taking into account fair competition to encourage investment and innovation,” the leaders said.
The APEC leaders also endorsed anew the proposed Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP) to further the bloc’s regional economic integration agenda.
They likewise welcomed the entry into force of the World Trade Organization (WTO) Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) and call for its full implementation. “We underline APEC’s crucial role in support of a rules-based, free, open, fair, transparent, and inclusive multilateral trading system,” thy said.
The leaders also vowed to strengthen the capacity and innovation of MSMEs to compete in the global market.
They also reaffirmed their commitment to achieve a sustainable APEC food system by 2020. They vowed to enhance regional food markets, food standards and supply chain connectivity, and promote suitable management of natural resources.
APEC member economies are Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, United States, and Vietnam.