Brunei Agrees To Speed Up Free Trade
By Hadi DP Mahmud

Hanoi - Brunei Darussalam's Second Minister of Foreign Affairs, Pehin Orang Kaya Pekerma Dewa Dato Seri Setia Lim Jock Seng, joined his Apec economic counterparts yesterday to accelerate a deal on trade liberalisation under the World Trade Organisation.

He was among the 21 foreign and trade ministers who jointly agreed on working towards restarting and accelerating trade liberalisation talks under the WTO with several economies seeking a major deal by the end of next year.

During the two-day meeting which concluded yesterday, ministers at the Apec forum discussed the documents passed by the Apec Concluding Senior Officials' Meeting.

The documents included a statement aimed at restarting the Doha round of talks presented by WTO director general Pascal Lamy, the Hanoi Action Plan for the implementation of the Busan Roadmap towards the Bogor goals, and the reform in Apec towards a more dynamic and effective forum.

The meeting, co-chaired by Pham Gia Khiem, Vietnam's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Truong Dinh Tuyen, Vietnam's Minister of Trade, also reiterated the ministers' support for the multilateral trading system and commitment to achieving the Bogor goals of free and, open trade and investment by 2010/2020.

"The establishment of a free-trade area for the Asia- Pacific is ago al for the long-term future,", said Truong. He declined to estimate a time frame. "Apec's first priority for the immediate future is promoting and rescuing the Doha negotiations," said Pham. Lamy said there was "a sense of urgency" to revive a deal.

A joint statement issued after the meeting said the delegates reaffirmed their commitment to strengthen the multilateral trading system, and recommendedApec economic leaders issue a stand-alone statement on the Doha Development Agenda.

Ministers unanimously approved the Hanoi Action Plan to implement the Busan Roadmap, which was adopted by Apec leaders during the 2005 meetings in South Korea.

The action plan is an important vehicle to push for effective realisation of the 1994 Bogot goals of free and open trade and investment.

The meeting also endorsed the trade and investment liberalisation and facilitation measures, and discussed enhancing anti-corruption and transparency in the Southeast Asian region.

According to the statement, the ministers and representatives also reaffirmed their determination to take action to enhance human security in the areas of counter-terrorism, health security, emergency preparedness and energy security.

Pham said the meeting also devoted a lot of time to discussing the reform of Apec to make it more dynamic and efficient.

Documents endorsed by the ministers and representatives will be submitted to the Apec economic leaders for approval during their meeting this weekend. Apec Was founded in 1989. -- Courtesy of The Brunei Times

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