Heavy hitters from the business world Saturday told Asia-Pacific leaders, along with US President George W. Bush, not to sacrifice the fragile global economy in their drive to stamp out terrorism.
"We must work together to ensure security against terrorism," top Cemex Group official Javier Prieto, representing business, told the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum at this remote Mexican beach resort.
"We need, however, to ensure that in pursuing common security, we do not sacrifice the economic openness which is the basis of our common prosperity," said Prieto, chairman of the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC).
He pressed APEC to fight the threat of global deflation, keep the world economy open, rebuild investor confidence shattered by a slew of corporate scandals and foster small and big business.
"We meet at a time when the global economy is extremely fragile and the global economy faces the prospects of global deflation with severe implications for the prosperity, stability and security of the people of the Asia-Pacific," he said.
The world economy faces major challenges, Prieto said.
"Our most immediate challenge is to find solutions to enhance global security. However, we must find solutions that simultaneously protect our citizens while not substantially impeding the flow of goods, services and investment."
APEC leaders adopted Saturday a slew of anti-terrorist measures to reinforce civil planes' cockpit doors, tighten baggage checks and boost maritime security, the White House said in a statement.
It is known as the Secure Trade in the APEC region (STAR) initiative.
"The STAR initiative commits APEC economies to accelerate action on screening people and cargo for security before transit, increasing security on ships and airplanes while en route, and enhancing security in airports and seaports," the statement said.
US Transport Secretary Norman Mineta put some teeth into a key element of the plan, warning here this week the US would turn away foreign passenger planes after next April unless they are equipped with reinforced cockpit doors to deter hijackers.
Japan has signalled that it is uneasy with some aspects of the plan that dealt with maritime safety inspections.
Japan proposed a "balanced approach" to measures to secure shipments from terror bombings, saying stricter inspections could block free trade flows, a Japanese official said this week.
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