Malaysia's PM Najib To Meet TPP Leaders Before APEC Summit

By Noor Soraya Mohd Jamal DA NANG (Vietnam), Nov 9 (Bernama) – Malaysia's Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak will meet 10 Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) leaders for a discussion before the opening ceremony of the 25th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders’ Meeting (AELM) here. Prior to the 25th AELM on Nov 10 and 11, the Prime Minister is also expected to attend the US-APEC Business Coalition meeting and participate in a dialogue on the topic titled “APEC Post-2020 Vision” at the APEC CEO Summit. Malaysian Ambassador to Vietnam M Zamruni Khalid (pic) said the Prime Minister would pay a courtesy call on Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang upon arrival in Da Nang on Thursday. Najib will be accompanied by wife, Rosmah Mansor. This is the second time Vietnam is playing host to the AELM, having hosted it in Hanoi in 2006. Malaysia’s delegation includes International Trade and Industry Minister Mustapa Mohamed, and senior officials from the Prime Minister’s Office, Foreign Ministry and Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI). During his stay, Najib will hold bilateral meetings with Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, and Papua New Guineas Prime Minister Peter O'Neill to exchange views on issues of mutual interest. The 25th AELM themed “Creating New Dynamism, Fostering a Shared Future” aims to foster discussion on how to generate further momentum for APEC’s economic growth and integration to better harness opportunities from the fourth industrial revolution, and help realise the grouping’s common goal to build a peaceful, stable, integrated and prosperous community. During the summit, APEC leaders are expected to deliberate on issues governing the grouping, especially in the context of achieving the aspiration of Bogor Goals in 2020. The Bogor Goals, agreed upon by APEC leaders in 1994, sought to achieve “free and open trade and investment” in the region by 2020. “The leaders are committed to inject new dynamism into the APEC cooperation to operate sustainable, innovative and inclusive growth, different regional economic integration, and tapping into the full potential for the business sector,” Zamruni told Malaysian media here Wednesday. During the two-day gathering, Najib is also expected to take part in the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) Dialogue and the Informal Dialogue between APEC and ASEAN, as well as two Retreat sessions. In the first retreat, APEC leaders will dwell on the topic titled “Innovative Growth, Inclusion and Sustainable Employment in the Digital Age", while in the second Retreat, they will delve on the topic titled “New Drivers for Regional Trade, Investment and Connectivity". At the end of the summit, the leaders are expected to adopt the 25th APEC Leaders Declaration. Before concluding his working visit to Da Nang, Najib is expected to meet the Malaysian diaspora at a dinner. Zamruni said Malaysia has been an active APEC partner and will host the APEC Summit for the second time in 2020. “This is a reflection of Malaysia’s commitment to comprehensive reform and international integration trade, and proactive contribution to shape regional and multilateral cooperation mechanisms,” he added. Malaysia last hosted the 10th AELM in November 1998. Established in 1989, APEC aims to develop and strengthen the multilateral trading system, and to promote regional economic integration and sustainable economic growth. Its 21 member economies are home to about 2.8 billion people and represent 59 per cent of the world’s GDP and 49 per cent of world trade (photoBERNAMA). -- BERNAMA