ABU DHABI, 9 Nov, 05 (WAM) - Leaders, Ministers, Senior Officialsand thousands of delegates from APEC's 21 Member economies willbegin a week of high level meetings in Korea this Saturday thatwill conclude with the Annual Economic Leaders' meeting on November18-19.
Agenda items for the meetings are likely to include the formulationof a regional response to a potential Avian Influenza pandemicand establishing a common position in relation to the upcomingWTO ministerial negotiations. Meetings are also expected tocover regional concerns relating to terrorism, energy pricesand ongoing regional economic development, according to a pressrelease from Singapore.
The Executive Director of the APEC Secretariat, Ambassador ChoiSeok Young, said the social and economic consequences of an outbreakof Avian Influenza are seen as a particularly crucial issue inthe APEC process.
'An Avian Influenza pandemic has the potential to cause extremeharm to the people of our region not only through illness anddeath, but would also undermine businesses and cost jobs,' AmbassadorChoi said before the start of the meetings.
'If economies do not work together to share information andpreparation strategies, the consequences could be dire for theregion.
'Leaders, Ministers and Senior Officials will look at the challengesposed by a potential pandemic and seek a unified regional response.'Recommendations from the recent Symposium on Avian Influenzain Brisbane, Australia, will be presented to Leaders, Ministersand Senior Officials to aid in their discussions.
Ambassador Choi said the upcoming meeting of World Trade OrganizationMinisters in Hong Kong will also be an issue for the APEC meetings.
'APEC Member Economies account for around half of global tradeand so have a significant collective voice in WTO discussions.
Our Members will build on decisions by APEC Trade Ministersearlier in the year to provide substantial momentum to progressthe current round of WTO negotiations.' The week of APEC meetingswill begin with the Concluding 2005 meeting of APEC Senior Officialson November 12-13. Senior Officials from APEC's 21 Member Economieswill cover issues that will then be advanced to Leaders and Ministers.
The Meeting of APEC Ministers will take place on November 15-16before the start of the Leaders? Meeting on November 18. Othermeetings taking place in Busan include the meeting of the APECBusiness Advisory Council on November 14-16 and the APEC CEOSummit on November 17-19.
