President Piñera made a positive assessment of APEC: “We have been able to move forward on collaboration based on one guiding principle: to improve the quality of life and create better opportunities for all of our citizens.”
The president provided details on the conclusions reached at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meetings held in Papua New Guinea, where he met with leaders of the 21 APEC member economies. “We have an enormous responsibility to continue to make progress on the priorities we set for the APEC 2019 in Chile,” said the president.
Following two days of meetings, dialogues and exchanges with the highest-ranking leaders of the 21 economies that make up the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, President Piñera summed up his main conclusions outside APEC Haus, site of the Leaders’ Meeting in Papua New Guinea.
“We support the strengthening and modernization of the World Trade Organization because the best thing for the world is to have institutions and an efficient, modern and transparent organization that regulates and promotes international trade,” stated the president.
The Chilean President held bilateral meetings with the leaders of the People’s Republic of China, Japan, Australia and other countries to establish priorities on several topics, such as scientific and academic exchanges, positive aging, cooperation on natural disasters, astronomical cooperation, Antarctic issues and clean energy.
“We have been able to move forward on collaboration between these important countries and Chile based on one guiding principle: to improve the quality of life and create better opportunities for all of our citizens,” the president declared.
The APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) Dialogue with Leaders, as well as with the leaders of the Pacific Islands, defined a number of challenges that must be addressed during the coming months and then evaluated next year in Chile, when Chile hosts the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation in Santiago.
“We have an enormous responsibility to continue to make progress on the priorities we set for the APEC 2019 in Chile, which involve the digital economy, Integration 4.0, and the full inclusion of women, micro-, small and medium-sized enterprises and native peoples,” added the president.
Additional priorities include comprehensive development, which covers all aspects of people-centered development that is inclusive, sustainable, respectful, and environmentally and nature-friendly.
The trade war between the U.S.A. and China was also addressed by the President. “We had the opportunity to suggest and request that the major economic powers, especially the United States and China, find ways to reach agreements and resolve this problem which has led to the tariff and trade war we have witnessed during the past few months. This situation benefits no one and will wind up hurting everyone,” said the President.
These issues will also be addressed in New Zealand, during the president’s visit this Sunday.