26th Annual Meeting, Hanoi, Viet Nam
Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum
Sponsored by New Zealand
Draft Resolution on Enhancing Regional Cooperation and Economic Integration
Reiterating the Declaration of the 25th APEC Economic Leaders Meeting at Da Nang, November 2017, particularly a shared vision of a peaceful, stable, dynamic, interconnected and prosperous Asia-Pacific community, and noting that the membership of APEC represents a regional bloc of considerable economic and political significance;
Reaffirming the commitment made in the Bogor Declaration which was adopted by the APEC Leaders in 1994, to achieving the long-term goal of free and open trade and investment in the
Asia-Pacific region;
CelebratingtheAPPF as a platform for enhancing regional cooperation and economic integration in the Asia-Pacific region;
Recognising that regional cooperation can provide practical improvements and solutions to shared problems and issues, and the realisation of long-term sustainable development in our region;
Reaffirming a commitment to seek common trade frameworks,lowering economic barriers and removing distorting tariffs and subsidies, and seeking harmony and reciprocity of trade and investment arrangements; and
Cognisant that protectionism is rising, there has been some scepticism of multilateral agreements, and the rules governing global trade are under challenge.
RESOLVES TO:
1. Welcome the negotiation and implementation of bilateral and multilateral trade agreements, which are compliant with modern international standards, protect human dignity, and promote sustainable development.
2. Encourage APPF Member States to engage citizens and non-governmental stakeholders in consultation and scrutiny of agreements and effectively communicate local and regional benefits and opportunities of these agreements.
3. Urge APPF Member States to encourage their Governments to realise the opportunities for maximising the existing regional trade architecture.
4. Urge APPF Member States to consider that effective regional trade and cooperation must be built upon domestic policies and regulatory settings that support knowledge-based economies, effective use of information technology, and innovation.