APEC supports call to push WTO talks

The annual APEC ministerial meeting opened yesterday with calls to push the Doha Round of WTO negotiations and regional economic integration.

WTO Director-General Pascal Lamy called on APEC to support the Negotiating Group on Market Access meeting on Sept. 17 in Geneva, Switzerland.

"All members expressed their support to move forward with the WTO negotiations," Bureau of Foreign Trade Director-General Huang Chih-peng (黃志鵬) told reporters after yesterday's meeting.

The credibility of a multilateral trade system would be damaged if the WTO negotiations collapse, Huang said, citing Lamy.

Minister of Economic Affairs Steve Chen (陳瑞隆) met with Lamy yesterday, Huang said.

There were disagreements yesterday about the regional economic integration of APEC, Huang said.

Senior APEC officials presented a report on the formation of a Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP) this year with concrete suggestions to move toward the goal, but the report was not officially certified during yesterday's meeting, he said.

Some developing countries -- such as China and Indonesia -- said APEC members should first focus on achieving the Bogor Goals, which specify the APEC objectives for free and open trade and investment among industrialized members by 2010, and among developing members by 2020.

The establishment of FTAAP would also change the non-binding and voluntary essence of APEC, and members have not reached any consensus on that, Huang said.

As all members understand the importance of integrating regional economies, Chen suggested during the meeting that members explore the possibility of FTAAP and transform challenge into opportunity, he said.

As FTAAP is to further improve trade facilitation, private enterprises' demands and suggestions should always be considered when paving the way to an APEC free trade pact, Huang said, citing Chen.

In Taipei, Acer founder Stan Shih (施振榮) said that he would not touch on political topics when talking with other attendees of this weekend's APEC leadership summit, but he would not avoid issues that concern Taiwan's UN bid.

"This is an occasion to talk about economics-related issues, not politics," Shih said at a press conference at the Government Information Office yesterday.

"But, if anybody asks for my opinion on Taiwan's UN bid, I will definitely deliver the message that Taiwan is qualified to join the UN as an independent country," he said.

President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) appointed Shih as his special envoy to this year's APEC leadership summit. He will leave for Sydney today.

"As the president's envoy, I shall do my best to fight for Taiwan's best interests throughout the entire trip to Sydney," Shih said.

He said environmental protection issues will be one of the main topics at the summit.

Taiwan is able to help its allies on this issue, he said.

"`Green APEC' is this year's theme," Shih said.

"We will be more than happy to help or contribute if there is a chance and this message must be clearly delivered," he said.

Asked whether he would be traveling to Sydney on Air Force One, Shih said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was making all the arrangements.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manu-facturing Co (台積電) chairman Morris Chang (張忠謀) flew to Hanoi on Air Force One when he was President Chen's special envoy to last year's APEC meeting.

However, the national flag on the aircraft was covered up for that flight.