DATE=9/12/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=APEC DAYWRAP / L
NUMBER=2-253760
BYLINE=AMY BICKERS
DATELINE=AUCKLAND
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Pacific Rim leaders officially started the
world's biggest annual summit, Sunday. As Amy Bickers
reports from Auckland, they sat down to talk trade and
finance, amid concerns over East Timor and other
regional conflicts.
Text: Heads of state and prime ministers from 21
Pacific Rim governments sat down Sunday in Auckland to
talk about trade and commerce, in the aftermath of
the Asian economic crisis. The main goal of their two-
day gathering is to create a regional agenda for
global free-trade talks, which start in Seattle this
November, under the auspices of the World Trade
Organization.
A draft of the leaders' final communique praises
Asia's recovery from the economic slump of the past
two years and emphasizes the need to boost financial
market regulation and corporate governance. It offers
"the strongest possible support" to the W-T-O talks
and calls for the repeal of export farm subsidies.
The message of continuing reform, while further
opening markets, was underscored by President Clinton,
who addressed regional business leaders at a breakfast
gathering.
/// CLINTON ACTUALITY ///
We must, in short, continue our efforts to put a human
face on the global economy -- not because it is
charity, but because it is the right thing to do, from
a humane as well as well as from an economic
standpoint. It is essential to the long-term success
of the market. An active role for government is
important -- not to restrain competition or to dictate
the flow of investment -- but to ensure fair dealing
and a level playing field.
/// END ACTUALITY ///
The president also said the W-T-O should be guided by
APEC's agenda and accept its proposal that the coming
trade round last three years -- much shorter than the
previous round.
Most of the leaders' meetings taking place on the
summit's sidelines continue to focus on politics.
Australian Prime Minister John Howard and many of the
other leaders discussed the crisis in East Timor. Mr.
Howard has secured commitments from at least seven
APEC leaders to commit troops to a United Nations-
sanctioned peacekeeping force, if Jakarta approves
it.
Stability on the Korean peninsula was also a prominent
topic. Many countries are watching to see if North
Korea test-fires a long-range ballistic missile, as
expected. Concern over the possible test was raised at
a news conference by the Chinese foreign ministry. A
Chinese official said Beijing is interested in seeing
peace maintained between the two Korea's. After a
meeting on that subject with President Clinton and
South Korean President Kim Dae Jung, Japanese Prime
Minister Keizo Obuchi said the three leaders agreed to
cooperate on North Korean issues.
The issue of Beijing's and Taipei's conflicting views
on Taiwanese status was also raised. China's foreign
ministry spokesman says Beijing strongly opposes what
it calls the fallacy of the two-states policy recently
raised by Taiwan's president. That policy reflects the
Taiwanese leader's belief Beijing should treat Taipei
as an equal.
A Taiwanese official -- representing President Lee
Teng-Hui -- told reporters China and Taiwan are two
countries -- separately divided -- each with its own
sovereignty. He says Taipei hopes to establish a basis
for a future dialogue in which both sides stand as
equal partners.
Monday -- the last day of the summit -- the 21 APEC
leaders will attend a retreat (closed-door gathering)
and issue their final declaration on the APEC agenda
for the coming year. (Signed)
NEB / wd / wd
12-Sep-1999 06:06 AM LOC (12-Sep-1999 1006 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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