Cover by Greg Berger Design, Inc
Cover Photo by Gregory S.Heslin
Meet Challenges and Explore New Opportunities for Asia-Pacific Regional Cooperation
His Excellency Tang Jiaxuan, Minister of For eign Affairs, The People's Republic of China
In the golden season of October, Shanghai, China, will greet the Ninth Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders Meeting, the first grand gathering of APEC in the new century. Leaders of its 21 members will meet in Shanghai and discuss matters of vital importance regarding Asia-Pacific economic cooperation.
The course covered by APEC for more than a decade has reflected the development and evolution of the political and economic structure of the Asia-Pacific region. "To strengthen regional cooperation and promote common development" has always been the shared objective of all the members. In keeping with the trend of our times, APEC has grown into an extremely important forum for economic cooperation in the region and made an outstanding contribution to the economic development of the Asia-Pacific and the world at large.
In the new century, APEC also faces many new challenges and opportunities. Globalization, the new economy, and new technologies have presented new tasks for deepening regional cooperation and exploring opportunities for future development. In this context, we have determined the theme of this year's APEC meeting: Meeting New Challenges in the New Century: Achieving Common Prosperity Through Participation and Cooperation. We hope that with the concerted efforts of all members, economic and technical cooperation will be further strengthened, members better positioned to participate in globalization and the new economy, trade and investment facilitated, the multilateral trading system supported, dialogue on macroeconomic policy launched and sustained, and stable economic development boosted in the Asia-Pacific region.
As an important member of the APEC community, China has all along been an active supporter of and participant in APEC's cooperative initiatives. President Jiang Zemin has attended all previous APEC Economic Leaders Meetings and stated China's views on such major and frontier issues as the approach, priorities, and orientation of APEC cooperation, thus playing a significant and constructive role in moving APEC forward. As host of 2001 APEC, we will continue to work together with others in a spirit of cooperation, progress, and development to create a new era of economic growth and cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region. We will also let the world know about China's strong determination and firm steps toward reform, opening-up, and convergence with the global economy.
A steadily growing APEC serves the common interests of China and the United States, both being key members of the organization. To move APEC forward and deepen its cooperation depends on the efforts of all members, China and the United States included. Cooperation within the framework of APEC benefits not only the development of economic ties and trade between the two countries but also their collaboration on international and regional issues.
Enterprises are the main players and the most dynamic factor in modern economic activities. While advancing the APEC process, the Chinese Government has always attached importance to and supported the extensive participation and cooperation of the business communities. We hope that the business communities, including the American one, will take an active part in APEC activities, and, while seizing more business opportunities, will contribute to the economic cooperation and prosperity of the Asia-Pacific region.
China, a country committed to economic development, reform, and opening-up, will play a role in the Asia-Pacific and the world with an approach of even greater openness. Meanwhile, I am convinced that with our own unremitting efforts and the support of other members, the 2001 APEC meetings will achieve fruitful results and add a new chapter to the annals of the history of Asia-Pacific economic cooperation in the new century.
All Rights Reserved.