Pacific forum Calls for Regional Cooperation

The Korea Herald 
June 28, 2004 

Economic leaders and policymakers from the Pacific basin are discussing new economic challenges emerging in the region and the role of businesses and governments to promote sustainable growth at the 37th annual International General Meeting of the Pacific Basin Economic Council which opened in Beijing on Friday.

The council is an association of business leaders from the Asia-Pacific region that promotes the expansion of trade and investment through open markets.Its multinational membership includes 1,000 corporate members in 20 national economies.

This year's general meeting is hosted by China under the theme "Driving Change: A New Role for Business in the Asia-Pacific.""This theme reflects the new reality confronting the regional business community: The private sector must now play an ever greater role in shaping the social, economic and political environment in the region," Wan Jifei, chairman of China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, said in a statement. He chairs PBEC China.

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22 Asian Nations Adopt 13 point Programme on Cooperation
The Tribune
June 22, 2004

The 22-member Asia cooperation dialogue (ACD) today decided to intensify cooperation among themselves in a big way to take Asia’s economic integration to the next level, make travel into and within Asia easier and bridge the divide within Asia and between Asia and the world.

The decision was taken at the ACD’s third ministerial meeting held in Qingdao (China) today at the end of which a declaration called “Declaration on Asia Cooperation: Hand in Hand for a Better Asia” and “Qingdao Initiative” were adopted. Copies of the two documents were made available by the Ministry of External Affairs here.

The declaration, while acknowledging that Asia’s economic integration is still at an initial stage and its level of cooperation has to be further strengthened, has decided on a 13-point programme to begin with. 

Click here to read further http://www.tribuneindia.com/2004/20040623/main2.htm

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22 Asian Nations Agree to Move Hand in Hand
Financial Express
June 22, 2004 

India, China, Pakistan and leaders from 19 other countries have agreed to move “hand-in-hand” to build a better Asia and pledged to resolve disputes among them through dialogue to preserve peace and security in the region.

In a five-page declaration on ‘Asia co-operation,’ adopted at the end of the Asian Co-operation Dialogue (ACD) in Qingdao, China on Tuesday, 22 countries decided to “vigorously” develop intra-regional trade, promote investment activity for bilateral and regional economic development and encourage regional trade arrangements.

Click here to read further http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=61974

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ACD FMs say Regional Cooperation Contributes to Peace and Development in Asia

Xinhua Online
June 22, 2004

Regional cooperation has greatly contributed to peace and development in Asia, said a declaration issued at the third foreign ministers' meeting of the Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) here Tuesday.

 At the close of the meeting, the 22 foreign ministers or their representatives of the ACD member states issued the "Declaration on Asia Cooperation".

In the declaration, the ministers said they have noted "with pleasure" that Asia has been increasingly aware of the importance of mutual benefit and win-win cooperation, thriving cooperation ofvarious forms at regional and sub-regional level and multiplying regional trade arrangements.

Click here to read further http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-06/22/content_1540491.htm

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Asia Initiates Energy Cooperation

Sify Online
June 22, 2004 

China, India, Pakistan and 19 other nations today initiated a Pan-Asian regional cooperative mechanism to find ways to promote energy security cooperation and maintain sustained and stable energy production, key to economic growth in the region.

Click here to read further http://sify.com/finance/fullstory.php?id=13503688

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Thailand Calls for Asian Energy Planning

The Business Times Online
June 22, 2004 

Thailand's foreign minister on Monday called for Asian governments to develop long-term plans to ease energy shortages as officials of 22 nations opened a regional conference. The conference also was to include a meeting between foreign ministers from nuclear-armed rivals India and Pakistan, which promised on Sunday to set up a new hot line to reduce the risk of war.Officials at the two-day annual meeting of the Asia Cooperation Dialogue, founded in 2002 at the initiative of Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, planned to issue a joint declaration on Tuesday about regional energy cooperation.'We cannot afford to shy away from the hard decisions on managing our energy resources,' Thai Foreign Minister Surakiart Sathirathai said at the start of the gathering in the northeastern Chinese port of Qingdao.' We need to accept the reality that we no longer live in an era of cheap oil prices,' Mr Surakiart said. 'We need to look long-term, and develop our resources.'

Click here to read further  http://business-times.asia1.com.sg/story/0,4567,120289,00.html

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Asia Gets Historic opportunity to Strengthen Cooperation

Xinhua Online
June 22, 2004

Asia is now facing historic opportunities to enhance cooperation and achieve common development, said Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao Tuesday at the opening ceremony of the third foreign ministers' meeting of the Asia Cooperation Dialogue. Wen based his judgment on the fact:

• Peace and stability remain the themes of the times, and thisis also true in Asia;

• Economic reform in many Asian countries has further integrated them into economic globalization and regional cooperation;

• Asia enjoys rich natural resources, abundant workforce, vast market and huge potentials in regional economic cooperation;

• Asian countries generally value family, education, hard workand thrifty, and such shared philosophy has reinforced the inherent drive for regional cooperation; and

• Through years of efforts, regional and sub-regional cooperation in Asia has made new and steady headway, featuring robust regional dialogue and mutually beneficial cooperation.
  

Click here to read further http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-06/22/content_1539838.htm

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Regional Bond Markets Conducive to Financial Ability

Xinhua Online
June 21, 2004

Asian foreign ministers, who are here attending the Third Foreign Ministers' Meeting of Asia Cooperation Dialogue, have attached great importance to the establishment of a regional bond market, saying it can help maintain financial stability in the region.

 At a high level seminar held on the sideline of the ACD ForeignMinisters' Meeting Monday, Thai Foreign Minister Surakiat Sathirathai said the development of a regional bond market was a key instrument to ensure that Asian wealth would be invested more in Asia for common Asian prosperity so as to help prevent a repeat of the 1997 Asian financial crisis.

Click here to read further http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-06/21/content_1537958.htm

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ACD Reflects Asia's Aspiration for Closer Cooperation

Xinhua Online
June 21, 2004

Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing said here Monday that the Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) reflected the common aspiration of Asian countries to enhance cooperation. Li made the comment in meeting with foreign ministers of Singapore, Cambodia, Thailand, India, Bahrain, Oman, Pakistan, South Korea and Japan, who are here to attend the third ACD foreign ministers' meeting slated for Tuesday.

Click here to read further http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-06/21/content_1538128.htm

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