APEC 2007 to Enjoy Bipartisan Support in Australia
Bipartisan political commitment will ensure APEC's success during Australia's tenure as host economy in 2007, according to Mr. Simon Crean, Australia's Shadow Minister for Regional Development.
During a visit to the APEC Secretariat in Singapore today Mr. Crean said there is broad support across the Australian political spectrum for the success of APEC 2007, which will be hosted by Australia.
"Australia was involved in the foundation of APEC in 1989, and we continue to hold great expectations for APEC's on-going trade and community-building roles in the region," Mr. Crean said.
"APEC has been significant in facilitating free and open trade in the Asia-Pacific region for the last 16 years and will continue to be relevant through actions such as the recent political support shown by Trade Ministers for a favorable resolution of the WTO Doha Development Round.
"Both sides of the House of Representatives in Australia are strongly committed to the success of APEC. Being hosts in 2007 will demonstrate, once again, that Australia has the human resources, flair and energy to stage a leading international event."
APEC Secretariat Executive Director, Ambassador Choi Seok-Young of Korea, provided strong words of encouragement for Australia's ongoing involvement and leadership within the APEC forum.
"Australia is one of the founding fathers of APEC and to this day continues to play a leadership role through chairmanship of a number of APEC sub-fora and Working Groups," Ambassador Choi said.
"As APEC focuses on issues such as the reform of APEC functions in order to enable the forum to be more effective, we are pleased that Australia continues to play an active part in discussions. We look forward to Australia's stewardship in 2007, which should see the culmination of a number of reform measures throughout the forum."
Korea is the 2005 host of the APEC process with the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting Scheduled for Busan in November. Viet Nam will host APEC in 2006 and hold the Leaders' Meeting in Ha Noi in November. For 2007 Australia has already selected Sydney as host city of the Leaders' Meeting that will take place in September. In the lead-up to the Sydney meeting a range of ministerial and other official meetings will take place around Australia.