- Title: Brunei: APEC Summit Ends With Call For New Round Of Trade Talks
- Date: 16th November 2000
- Summary: Asia-Pacific leaders called on November 16 for a new round of global trade talks to be launched in 2001. A statement read by Brunei Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah at the end of the annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cupertino (APEC) forum summit in Brunei said: "Despite encouraging signs of a return to strong growth, we are determined not to be complacent. Globalisation raises our stake in a healthy rules based multilateral trading system. But launching a new round of global trade talks must benefit all WTO members especially the least developed and developing economies. So we have agreed here today to work towards a launch of a new round in 2001. " The question of whether APEC's 21 member economies should call for a round to start next year has been hotly debated at the APEC summit over the last few days, with the United States pushing hard for firm dates and others, including Malaysia, opposing such a commitment. The United States, Australia and New Zealand have pushed hard for firm dates for the start of a new round, while others including Malaysia and South Korea, have said there was no point setting target dates until an agenda was agreed. A commitment to attempts to start a new round in 2001 has however faced speculation that the commitment would be diluted in the light of objections from several APEC members. The leaders' declaration also called for "appropriate measures" to promote stability in the oil market and for Russia's eventual entry into the World Trade Organisation. Many of the leaders at this year's summit are lameduck, either embroiled in political crisis or at the end of their term. Peru's embattled President Alberto Fujimori joined fellow APEC leaders only on the second day of the meeting amid speculation he would fly home early to quash in person rumours he had sought political asylum in Asia. Other leaders in political trouble are Philippine President Joseph Estrada, who was recently impeached, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori, whom the opposition has asked to resign, and Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian, who is facing impeachment. Thai Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai and US President Bill Clinton are about to finish their terms in office.
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- Location: BRUNEI DAR-US-SALAAM BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN
- Reuters ID: LDL0012E4CORB
- Aspect Ratio: 4:3
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