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There were good outcomes for New Zealand from this year's APEC Summit meetings in Sydney from 5 to 9 September. Climate change was the flagship issue, with APEC leaders agreeing to a ‘Declaration on Climate Change, Energy Security and Clean Development’.
The Declaration represents a positive step forward in regional cooperation on this important issue. It reaffirms a commitment to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, and calls for a post-2012 international arrangement that strengthens, broadens and deepens the current arrangements for reducing global emissions of greenhouse gases.
The Declaration recognises the need for all economies to contribute toward shared goals, and it sets aspirational targets for energy efficiency and forestry for both developed and developing APEC economies. The content of the Declaration is consistent with APEC’s role as a voluntary, consensus based organisation, dedicated to fostering practical cooperation and mutual understanding.
APEC Leaders also delivered a timely and credible stand-alone statement on the WTO's Doha Development Round with pressure to see words translated into action in Geneva.
Leaders endorsed a report received from Ministers on Regional Economic Integration which includes a range of practical, incremental steps to explore the possibility of a Free Trade Area for the Asia Pacific (FTAAP). Under this broad rubric, the Trans-Pacific (P4) Trade Agreement (comprising New Zealand, Brunei, Chile and Singapore) continues to be profiled as a possible template for a region-wide agreement. This positions New Zealand well as a potential contributor to the future evolution of a more defined APEC-based economic architecture.
The APEC Summit gave strong endorsement to intensifying behind-the-border structural reform work, with positive spin-offs for New Zealand (New Zealand chairs the relevant APEC Committee advancing this work programme and in many areas New Zealand policy settings, representing best or close to best international practice, will be turned to as a reference point).
APEC's Human Security agenda was given an affirmation but in other respects it was a lower profile year for APEC's counter-terrorism/health security/emergency preparedness agenda.
Lastly, a range of sensible internal APEC reforms were agreed to boost the entity's professionalism and responsiveness. APEC's membership moratorium was extended - to be reviewed again in 2010. The United States formally announced its offer to host APEC in 2011, as did Russia for 2012.
As always the APEC Summit provided significant opportunities for high-level bilateral meetings. The Prime Minister, Foreign Minister and Trade Minister held 18 meetings with their APEC counterparts.
