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China's
Participation in APEC's Important Activities
APEC Activities Sponsored
by and Held in China
China's
Participation in APEC's Important Activities??Top
Since the participation in APEC in 1991,
China has fully taken part in various APEC activities in the
spirit of cooperation and played an active role in the cooperation
of APEC in recent years.
I. China's Participation in APEC Economic
Leaders' Meeting (AELM)
In the past 7 years, Chinese President Jiang Zemin has himself
taken part in each APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting and issued
important speeches. He elaborated China's initiatives, principles
and positions on the economic cooperation and the development
of APEC, making profound contributions to the healthy development
of APEC.
1. Seattle Meeting
In November 1993, President Jiang took part in the first APEC
Economic Leaders' Meeting and raised the important question
"What kind of a world are we going to usher into the
21st century?"
During the meeting, President Jiang made important speeches
on the three agenda items of the vision for the Asia-Pacific
region, priorities for regional economic cooperation, means
and mechanisms for regional economic cooperation. President
Jiang pointed out that the world was approaching the 21st
century. "What kind of a world are we going to usher
into the 21st century?" is a very important question
that our current leaders should ponder and answer. He said
that it would be a good thing to have genuine peace and prosperity
for mankind after joint efforts. The leaders would not be
able to account for it to the world people if the world continued
to be chaotic, insecure and plagued by economic troubles at
the turn of this century. President Jiang also raised the
guiding principles for regional economic cooperation: mutual
respect, equality and mutual interest, opening to each other
and common prosperity.
2. Bogor Meeting
During Bogor Meeting, President Jiang elaborated the 5 principles
on the economic cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region and
put forward the initiative that Meeting of Ministers responsible
for scientific and technological cooperation should be convened.
President Jiang made two speeches. In his keynote speech,
he elaborated China's opinions on the international situation,
economic situation and cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region.
Taking the diversity and mutual interdependence in this region
into account, President Jiang put forward the 5 principles
on the future economic development of the Asia-Pacific region.
The 5 principles are:
(1) mutual respect and consensus;
(2) gradual progress in an orderly and steady manner;
(3) mutual opening without exclusion;
(4) extensive cooperation, mutual benefit and reciprocity;
(5) narrow the gap and achieve common prosperity.
Concerning trade and investment liberalization, President
Jiang pointed out clearly that China was in favor of trade
and investment liberalization as a long-term goal and the
formulation of an appropriate timetable for implementation.
China also agreed that the meeting reach agreements of intent
on these issues. He stated that trade liberalization should
be based on the principle of non-discrimination and should
accommodate the diverseness in the Asia-Pacific region. APEC
members should proceed in a gradual, orderly and phased manner.
On issues like scientific and technical cooperation as well
as human resources development and the construction of infrastructure,
President Jiang also posed his thinking and concrete proposals
which included an initiative that one APEC Meeting of Ministers
responsible for scientific and technological cooperation convened
in Beijing.
3. Osaka Meeting
During Osaka Meeting in 1995, President reiterated China'
s basic stand about carrying out regional economic cooperation
and made public China's decision to reduce its overall tariff
level from 1996.
In his speech, President Jiang stated that the importance
of the revitalization of developing countries to the prosperity
of the Asia-Pacific region and the whole world should be recognized
from the point of historical view. He pointed out that if
the political resurgence of the developing countries can be
viewed as a major feature of the international evolution in
the second half of the 20th century, then their economic revitalization
would be a key hallmark of the new world pattern in the 21st
century.
Taking the new situation and the diverseness of the Asia and
the Pacific region into account, President Jiang pointed out
that APEC should be developed into a economic cooperation
organization with distinct characteristics of the Asia-Pacific
region. He also elaborated China's 5 basic positions:
(1) Achieving a sustainable economic development in the Asia-Pacific
region and the world at large should be the fundamental objective
of the cooperation;
(2) Efforts should be made to create a favorable external
environment for economic growth of the developing members;
(3) The principles of unilaterism and voluntarism should be
adhered to;
(4) It is necessary to give due consideration to existing
differences and to keep the process of trade and investment
liberalization at a carefully-measured speed;
(5) Trade and investment liberalization and economic and technical
cooperation should be given equal emphasis.
4. Subic Meeting
In 1996, President Jiang expounded profoundly and comprehensively
on Economic and Technical Cooperation at the APEC Economic
Leaders' Meeting in Subic, and put forward for the first time
the "APEC approach" guiding APEC cooperation. President
Jiang also announced that China would try to reduce its average
import tariff rate to around 15% by year 2000.
President Jiang emphasized in his speech that economic and
technical cooperation and trade and investment liberation
are of equal importance. Without a fruitful economic and technical
cooperation, trade and investment liberation can not make
much headway. In both principles and practices, APEC economic
and technical cooperation is quite different from development
aid in the traditional sense. This cooperation is reciprocal,
based on equality, mutual benefit and complementarity. Its
basic objective is to turn diversity into complementarity
in the economic development of all members, so as to achieve
common prosperity. President Jiang pointed out that in order
to ensure an effective economic and technical cooperation,
it is necessary to set a focus, namely, to define certain
priority areas. He proposed that a science and technology
industrial parks network be set up within APEC in order to
accelerate the momentum of integration of science and technology
with the economy. President Jiang also proposed that China
is ready to open an environmental protection center in Beijing
with advanced equipment to APEC members.
President Jiang emphatically pointed out that since its establishment,
APEC has gradually come up with unique way of cooperation.
This has come to be known as the "APEC approach".
It has such features as recognition of diversity; emphasis
on flexibility, gradual progress and openness; adherence to
mutual respect, equality, mutual benefit, consensus and voluntarity;
and combination of individual and collective actions. Guided
by the collectively defined common objectives, APEC members
are free to make their respective efforts in light of their
own
circumstances. APEC practice has shown that this approach
is viable and effective and should be maintained. Departure
from this approach will bring APEC difficulties hard to overcome.
5. Vancouver Meeting
At the 1997 Vancouver Meeting, President Jiang Zemin reiterated
"APEC Approach". He urged developed members to fully
open their market for technology trade and speed up the transfer
of technology to developing members. He proposed that APEC
adopt an Agenda for Science and Technology Industry Cooperation
into the 21 Century. President Jiang also expounded China's
basic position on the East Asian financial crisis and announced
that China decided to accede to the Information Technology
Agreement and lower its average tariff to industrial products
to 10% by 2005.
On "APEC approach", President Jiang pointed out
that APEC has its own basic features in its approach, that
is giving full consideration to the diversity of its members
and acknowledging their divergence in the level and stage
of development as well as the consequent differing interests
and needs; laying emphasis on flexibility, step-by -step progress
and openness; adhering to such principles as equality and
mutual benefit, consensus, seeking common ground while putting
aside differences as well as voluntarism; and combining individual
with collective actions. Practice has proved that the APEC
Approach, which responds to the reality in the region, is
conducive to achieving a balance of rights, interests and
needs of various members. It will also help its member economies
to give full play to their capability for common development.
Adherence to this approach affords an important guarantee
for strengthened cooperation among APEC members.
As to economic and technical cooperation, President Jiang
pointed out that economic and technical cooperation and trade
and investment liberalization are closely linked and should
support each other. Science and technology cooperation should
be the important content and priority area for APEC cooperation.
He expounded views on fully opening the market for technology
trade, encourage and speed up the transfer of hi-technologies
and other latest technologies to all members and developing
members in particular, and rationalize the intellectual property
rights regime. He also proposed that APEC adopt an Agenda
for Science and Technology Industry Cooperation into the 21st
Century, which was highly valued and was fully reflected in
the Vancouver Declaration.
As to financial instability in Southeast Asia , President
Jiang stressed that normal and safe operation of the financial
system is crucial to the overall economic stability and development.
He emphasized that to maintain a normal financial order and
ward off financial risks, we should not only formulate correct
economic development strategies and preserve a rational economic
structure, but also improve the financial system through strengthened
financial supervision and regulation. Meanwhile, we should
decline financial policies in light of our specific conditions.
We should enhance regional and international financial cooperation,
jointly restrain and ward off the impact of excessive speculation
of hot money in the world. China is ready to participate in
discussions on strengthening financial cooperation in the
Asia-Pacific region.
During the meeting, President Jiang delivered speeches at
the banquet held by Vancouver for the representatives of APEC
members and APEC CEO Summit special prolonged meeting respectively.
He briefed on China's domestic economic situation and relevant
policies and expounded China's stand on the issue of developing
cooperation between enterprises within APEC members.
6. Kuala Lumpur Meeting
During the Kuala Lumpur Meeting in 1998, President Jiang pointed
out that the Asian financial crisis came out of the accelerated
development of the globalization, which was bringing development
opportunities as well as grim challenge and risks. He brought
forward his opinions on promoting the steady development of
the international financial system and giving impetus to the
establishment of a new international financial order: strengthen
international cooperation and prevent the crisis from spreading;
reform and improve the international financial system, secure
safe and orderly operation of the international financial
market; respect the choice of relevant countries to overcome
the crisis. Concerning economic and technical cooperation,
President Jiang praised the formulation of APEC Agenda on
Science and Technology Industry Cooperation into the 21st
century under the leadership of Malaysia. He announced that
China would provide 10 million US dollars to set up "China
APEC Fund on Scientific and Industrial Cooperation" to
finance the cooperation between China and other APEC members
in the field of science and technology, etc. As to trade and
investment liberalization, President Jiang emphasized that
APEC members should be allowed to realize the Bogor goals
on the basis of self-determination, voluntarism, flexibility
and adopting a pragmatic approach according to the Bogor timetable.
APEC members should be allowed to adjust their speed and means
according to their own characteristics in an active and steady
way.
On science and technology cooperation and human resources
development, President Jiang pointed out that science and
technology are the primary productive forces, and human beings
the most valuable resources. He emphasized the following:
to carry out science and technology industry cooperation to
help enterprises enhance their innovation capability; to increase
the financial regulatory and supervisory capability to ward
off any risks that might come with the globalization of the
international financial market; to provide reemployment training
and promote coordinated social and economic progress.
At the dialogue between APEC leaders and the representatives
of APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC), President Jiang
appreciated the efforts made by the business community to
promote the APEC process. He pointed out that enterprises
are the basic units for economic activities and carriers of
capital and technology. Without participation of enterprises,
economic and technical cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region
would not develop dynamically.
7. Auckland Meeting
President Jiang Zemin delivered an important speech at the
meeting. He stressed that keeping its nature as an economic
forum, maintaining its unique "APEC approach" and
attaching importance to economic and technical cooperation
is the important experience of APEC to maintain vitality and
make achievements. President Jiang put forward important proposals
on the development direction of APEC and the focus of cooperation.
He stressed that APEC should: actively promote common economic
prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region; deepen regional economic
and technical cooperation so as to lay a solid foundation
for medium and long-term development of the Asia-Pacific;
actively and steadily push forward the process of trade and
investment liberalization and promote a sound development
of the multilateral trading system; actively strengthen the
cooperation in the international financial field and promote
the establishment of a new, fair, and rational international
financial order; firmly adhere to the right development direction
of APEC and maintain the vigour and vitality of the organization;
actively press ahead with the mutually beneficial cooperation
among APEC members.
President Jiang also delivered a speech on APEC CEO Summit.
He briefed on the economic development and the efforts made
by China to maintain stability and development of the region.
He also expressed that Chinese government will continue to
encourage and support its enterprises to participate in APEC
cooperation and to meet the challenge of globalization.
The above speeches of President Jiang summarized APEC' course
of development and pointed out its future development directions.
Meanwhile, the speeches reiterated to the international society
the confidence and determination of Chinese government to
adhere to the policy of reform and opening up and to actively
participate in various APEC activities. The speeches drew
attentions of the participants and contributed to the success
of the meeting and the development of Asia-Pacific economic
cooperation.
II. China's Participation in APEC Ministerial
Meetings
On November 12-14, 1991, attended the 3rd APEC Ministerial
Meeting in Seoul, Korea, led by Qian Qichen, State Councilor
and Foreign Minister, and Li Lanqing, Minister of Foreign
Economic Relations and Trade.
On September 10-11, 1992, attended the 4th APEC Ministerial
Meeting in Bangkok, Thailand, led by Qian Qichen, State Councilor
and Foreign Minister, and Li Lanqing, Minister of Foreign
Economic Relations and Trade.
On November 17-19, 1993, attended the 5th APEC Ministerial
Meeting in Seattle, USA, led by Qian Qichen, Vice Premier
and Foreign Minister, and Wu Yi, Minister of Foreign Economic
Relations and Trade.
On November 11-12, 1994, attended the 6th APEC Ministerial
Meeting in Jakarta, Indonesia, led by Qian Qichen, Vice Premier
and Foreign Minister, and Wu Yi, Minister of Foreign Economic
Relations and Trade.
On November 16-17, 1995, attended the 7th APEC Ministerial
Meeting in Osaka, Japan, led by Qian Qichen, Vice Premier
and Foreign Minister, and Wu Yi, Minister of Foreign Economic
Relations and Trade.
On November 22-23, 1996, attended the 8th APEC Ministerial
Meeting in Manila, the Philippines, led by Qian Qichen, Vice
Premier and Foreign Minister, and Wu Yi, Minister of Foreign
Economic Relations and Trade.
On November 21-22, 1997, attended the 9th APEC Ministerial
Meeting in Vancouver, Canada, led by Qian Qichen, Vice Premier
and Foreign Minister, and Wu Yi, Minister of Foreign Trade
and Economic Cooperation.
On November 14-15, 1998, attended the 10th APEC Ministerial
Meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, led by Tang Jiaxuan , Foreign
Minister, and Shi Guangshen, Minister of Foreign Trade and
Economic Cooperation.
On September 9-10, 1999, attended the 11th APEC Ministerial
Meeting in Auckland, New Zealand, led by Tang Jiaxuan , Foreign
Minister, and Shi Guangshen, Minister of Foreign Trade and
Economic Cooperation.
III. China's Participation in APEC Sectoral
Ministerial Meetings
1992
Education Ministers Meeting, led by Teng Teng, Vice Chairman
of State Education Commission.
1994
Finance Ministers Meeting, by Liu Zhongli?? Minister of Finance.
Environment Ministers Meeting, by Xie Zhenhua, Administrator
of National Environment Protection Administration.
Trade Ministers Meeting, by Wu Yi, Minister of Foreign Economic
Relations and Trade.
SMEs Ministers Meeting, by Wang Zhongyu, Chairman of State
Economic &Trade Commission.
1995
Industrial Science and Technology Ministers Meeting, by Song
Jian, State Councilor and Chairman of State Science and Technology
Commission.
Finance Ministers Meeting, by Liu Zhongli?? Minister of Finance.
Telecommunication Ministers Meeting, by Wu Jichuan, Minister
of Post & Telecommunication.
Transportation Ministers Meeting, by Huang Zhendong, Minister
of Communication.
SMEs Ministers Meeting, by Wang Zhongyu, Chairman of State
Economic &Trade Commission.
1996
Industrial Science and Technology Ministers Meeting, by Song
Jian, State Councilor and Chairman of State Science and Technology
Commission.
Trade Ministers Meeting, by Wu Yi, Minister of Foreign Economic
Relations and Trade.
Finance Ministers Meeting, by Liu Zhongli?? Minister of Finance.
Environment Ministers Meeting, by Ye Ruqiu, Vice Administrator
of National Environment Protection Administration.
HRD Ministers Meeting, by Xu Songtao, Vice Minister of Personnel.
Energy Ministers Meeting, by Ye Qing, Vice Chairman of State
Planning Commission.
SMEs Ministers Meeting, by Chen Qingtai, Vice Chairman of
State Economic &Trade Commission.
Telecommunication Ministers Meeting, by Wu Jichuan, Minister
of Post & Telecommunication.
1997
Finance Ministers Meeting, by Liu Zhongli?? Minister of Finance.
Trade Ministers Meeting, by Long Yongtu, Chief Representative
for Trade Negotiation of Ministry of Foreign Economic Relations
and Trade.
Environment Ministers Meeting, by Xie Zhenhua, Administrator
of National Environment Protection Administration.
Transportation Ministers Meeting, by Liu Songjin, Vice Minister
of Communication.
Energy Ministers Meeting, by Yeqing, Vice Chairman of State
Planning Commission.
SMEs Ministers Meeting, by Chen Qingtai, Vice Chairman of
State Economic &Trade Commission.
HRD Ministers Meeting, by Zhang Bolin, Vice Minister of Personnel.
1998
Finance Ministers Meeting, by Xiang Huaichen?? Minister of
Finance.
APEC
Activities Sponsored by and Held in China??Top
1993
Trade Promotion Working Group: Seminar on Promoting the Expansion
of Export of SMEs (7-10 June, Shenzhen)
1994
The Industrial Science and Technology Working Group: the 6th
Working Group Meeting, the Seminar on Development Strategy
of Science and Technology Park in Asia Pacific Region,, the
2nd Special Meeting of Industrial Science and Technology (23-26
May, Beijing)
Trade Promotion Working Group: the 3rd Training Course of
Trade Promotion, the 4th Seminar on Trade Promotion (6-8 June,
Beijing)
1995
Industrial Science and Technology Ministers Meeting ( 5??6
October, Beijing )
The 6th Fisheries Working Group Meeting (13-15 June, Beijing)
The 7th Transportation Working Group Meeting (25-28 April,
Beijing)
The 7th Marine Resources Conservation Working Group Meeting
(29-31 May, Qingdao)
The 12th Human Resources Development Working Group Meeting
(30 May-2 June, Beijing)
The 10th Energy Working Group Meeting (9-12 May, Beijing)
The 7th Trade Promotion Working Group Meeting (4-7 June, Beijing)
The 12th Telecommunication Working Group Meeting (5-8 September,
Shanghai)
Energy Working Group: the 2nd Coal Flow Seminar (5-6 December,
Shanghai)
1996
The 8th Tourism Working Group Meeting (7-10 May, Beijing)
Trade and Investment Data Working Group Meeting and Seminar
(27-31 May, Shanghai)
Energy Working Group: APEC Energy R&D and Technology Transfer
and Renewable Energy Resources Assessment Seminar (5-9 February,
Beijing)
Industrial Science and Technology Working Group: the Seminar
on Technology and 21st Century Economy (25-26 June, Beijing)
Sub Committee on Customs Procedures:
APEC Customs Risk Management Seminar (3-5 September, Hangzhou)
Energy Working Group: Expert Group Meeting on Clean Energy
(5-16 August, Beijing)
Energy Working Group: the 1ST Clean Coal Technology Symbosium
(7-11 October, Xiaman)
Trade Promotion Working Group: Seminar on Anti-Dumping (16-18
December, Hainan)
1997
Human Resources Development Working Group: Seminar on School
Based Performance Indicators (13-16 April, Guilin)
Human Resources Development Working Group: the 1st Training
Course on the Program of Insurance of Trade and Investment
(2-13 June, Beijing)
Human Resources Development Working Group: the 2nd Training
Course on the Program of Insurance of Trade and Investment
( 21-30 October, Xiaman)
Human Resources Development Working Group: Seminar on the
Conclusion of the Program on Development of Infrastructure
Industry and HRD (25-27 June, Huangshan)
Trade Promotion Working Group: the 2nd Trade Fair (6-10 June,
Yantai)
Trade Promotion Working Group: Seminar on Government Procurement
(15-18 July, Yantai)
Trade Promotion Working Group: Seminar on the Sustainable
City Environment and Economy Policy (18-20 September, Beijing)
Telecommunication Working Group: '97 APEC Tel HRD Symposium
(11-13 August, Beijing)
Industrial Science and Technology Working Group: the Inaugural
Meeting of APEC Network of S & T Industrial Parks (15-17
September, Beijing)
Energy working Group: the 4th Coal Mine Gas Sub Group Meeting
(18-19 September, Beijing)
1998
Sub Committee of Customs Procedure: APEC Overview Seminar
on Kyoto Convention (20-24 April, Suzhou)
Committee of Trade and Investment: Training Course on Service
Trade (4-8 May, Qingdao)
'98 APEC Economic Outlook Symbosium (16-17 May, Xiaman)
Committee of Trade and Investment: APEC Training Program on
Statistical Reporting and Data Collection (6-10 July, Xiaman)
Economic Committee: Workshop on Information Collection of
Trade and Environment Measures (22-24 July, Beijing)
Policy Level Group on SMEs: Seminar of the Project of Research
for Operating Environment of SMEs (July, Jiujing)
Human Resources Working Group: The 2nd SMEs Technology Exchange
and Fair (8-10 October, Yantai)
Energy Working Group: Liaison Meeting of Sustainable Community
Energy (8-10 October, Beijng)
Energy Working Group: the 10th APEC Inter-Utility DSM Liaison
Group Meeting (18-20 October, Wuxi)
Committee of Trade and Investment:
Seminar on Food Labelling Laws, (24-25 November, Beijing)
1999
Sub Committee of Customs Procedure: APEC Regional Advisory
Mission on Temporary Importation (22-26 March, Beijing)
Human Resource Development Working Group: 2nd Training Course
on the Program of Insurance of Trade and Investment ( 7-17
April, Beijing)
Trade Promotion Working Group: Workshop on APEC Government
Procurement Practices(14-8 May, Kunming)
Committee of Trade and Investment: APEC UR Implementation
Seminar on WTO New Agreements (24-26 May, Tianjin)
Economic Committee: Dissemination Seminar on Survey on Trade
Related Environmental Measures and Environment Related Measures
in APEC (29-30 June, Hangzhou)
Marine Resources Conservation Working Group: the 2nd APEC
OMISAR Workshop on Ocean Models (25-29 October, Beijing)
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