ASEAN and APEC Secretariats Strengthen Cooperation

Jakarta, 28 June 2011, A delegation from the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Secretariat, led by its Executive Director, Ambassador Muhamad Noor, wraps up a two-day visit to the ASEAN Secretariat today. During the courtesy call on Dr Surin Pitsuwan, the Secretary-General of ASEAN, the two leaders agreed to strengthen Secretariat-to-Secretariat cooperation in mutually beneficial areas that will add value to their respective cooperation agendas. In a discussion with the Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for ASEAN Economic Community, S. Pushpanathan, both sides expressed interest to cooperate in several key areas such as regulatory reform, connectivity, competition policy, small and medium enterprises development, disaster management and food security. Both Secretariats updated each other on the on-going work and priorities of their respective institution and agreed that there are many common areas of interest for collaboration and to learn from one another. “In order to synergise the work we are individually undertaking in many of these areas, we could share resources and expertise, collaborate on specific initiatives or activities, and exchange experiences on institutional development of our respective Secretariat,” said S. Pushpanathan. On its vision to achieve free and open trade and investment in the Asia Pacific by 2010 for industrialised economies and 2020 for development economies, Ambassador Muhammad Noor informed that “APEC is working towards the Bogor Goals. There are still areas to be worked upon but, in general, member economies are progressing well towards achieving the Goals.” APEC was established in 1989 to further enhance economic growth and prosperity for the region and to strengthen the Asia-Pacific community. Out of its total membership of 21 economies, seven (7) are also members of ASEAN. The Bogor Goals were adopted by APEC Leaders at their 1994 meeting in Bogor, Indonesia.