ID :
30686
Mon, 11/17/2008 - 11:17
Auther :

M'SIAN DPM NAJIB TO LEAD DELEGATION TO APEC MEETING IN PERU

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 17 (Bernama) -- Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Mohd
Najib Razak will lead the Malaysian delegation to the 16th Asia Pacific
Economic Cooperation (Apec) Economic Leaders' Meeting in Lima, Peru, from
November 22-23.

The Apec meeting comes amid the global economic crisis with some member
economies already slipping into recession with many others deeply concerned over
the impact the crisis will have on their respective economies.

Najib, who is also Finance Minister, would join Asia-Pacific leaders to
discuss issues such as the global financial crisis, escalating food prices,
energy security and the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Doha Development Agenda
negotiations, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement here
today.

Other issues include regional economic integration, corporate social
responsibility, climate change, human security and disaster relief coordination.

The theme for the Apec meeting this year is "A New Commitment to the
Development of the Asia Pacific."

Apec, a forum set up in 1989, for 21 Pacific Rim member economies to
discuss
issues on regional economic cooperation, trade and investment, accounts for 55
percent of the world's gross domestic product and 49 percent of global
trade.

Malaysia hosted the summit in 1989 during which current host Peru was
admitted as a member of the Apec forum.

Najib would also be participating at the APEC Business Advisory Council
(Abac) dialogue with business leaders from the 21-member economies which
represents the region's business community.

He is also scheduled to hold bilateral meetings with several Apec
leaders.

The Apec annual summit would be preceded by the Apec ministerial meeting
(AMM) on Nov 19-20 and Apec senior officials meeting on Nov 16-17.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Rais Yatim will be deliberating issues
on counter terrorism, health and emergency preparedness in the AMM.

Minister of International Trade and Industry Muhyiddin Yassin will
deliberate issues on the global economy, WTO Doha Round, regional economic
integration and CSR.

Both ministers will also be meeting with several of their counterparts for
bilateral meetings on the sidelines of AMM.

A notable tradition by leaders at Apec meetings is the wearing of national
costumes of the host country.

Last year, Australia hosted the summit in Sydney.

The outcome of the leaders' meeting will be documented in a Joint Leaders'
Declaration while the 20th AMM outcomes will be documented in the Joint
Ministerial Statement.

Apec's 21 member economies comprise Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Hong
Kong, China, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua
New Guinea, Peru, the Philippines, Russia, Singapore; Taiwan, Thailand, United
States and Vietnam.

-- BERNAMA

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