APEC eyes action plan through 2015 to implement growth strategy+

TOKYO, Aug. 3 Kyodo -
Pacific Rim economies are expected to agree during weekend talks in Japan to
compile action plans that should be implemented by 2015 to realize a balanced
and sustainable growth in the region, an outline of a draft document to be
issued following the meeting showed Tuesday.
The draft, obtained by Kyodo News, also says the 21-member Asia-Pacific
Economic Cooperation forum will finalize by next year the action plan for each
of the designated key five areas, including structural reform, human resource
and entrepreneurship development, and green growth.
APEC leaders agreed in Singapore in 2009 that they will formulate a
comprehensive long-term growth strategy in 2010.
The strategy is expected to seek a more balanced, inclusive, sustainable,
innovative and secure growth in the region, with the action plans ensuring the
strategy's effective implementation.
The content of the strategy will be discussed in detail during the ministerial
APEC Growth Strategy High-Level Policy Round Table, to be held in Beppu, Oita
Prefecture, on Saturday and Sunday.
According to the outline of the document, named the chair's summary,
participants are expected to agree to start considering what kind of indicators
can be used to assess the progress made in each action plan.
The indicators may possibly include women's employment rate, energy efficiency,
the number of patent applications or food production.
Noting the importance of creating a follow-up mechanism, the draft calls on
APEC leaders to review the outcome of the progress on the growth strategy in
2015.
As for the target year of the growth strategy itself, discussions are under way
on whether to set it at 2015 or 2020, according to Japanese government
officials.
The debate at the meeting in Oita is expected to be reflected in the growth
strategy that will be finalized in November when the APEC leaders gather in
Yokohama for an annual summit.
APEC, which accounts for more than half the world's economic output and 44
percent of its trade by value, involves such members as Australia, China, Peru,
Russia, South Korea, Taiwan, the United States, and some of the countries that
belong to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
==Kyodo
2010-08-03 23:59:05