KUALA LUMPUR, May 21 (Bernama) — The 25th Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Ministers Responsible for Trade (MRT) Meeting was held on 17 and 18 May 2019 in the port city of Valparaiso, Chile. All 21 APEC Economies attended the Meeting, namely Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, China, Hong Kong China, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, the Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Chinese Taipei, Thailand, the United States and Viet Nam. Representatives from the ASEAN Secretariat, Pacific Economic Cooperation Council (PECC) and The Pacific Island Forum (PIF) also attended the Meeting as observers, together with the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC). The Malaysian Delegation was led by YB Datuk Darrell Leiking, Minister of International Trade and Industry. The meeting was chaired by Hon. Roberto Ampuero, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Chile.
Chile, as host, has chosen “Connecting People, Building the Future” as the theme of APEC throughout 2019. Ministers deliberated their ideas in regards to APEC’s supports to the WTO, deepening regional economic integration in responding to opportunities and challenges emerged from the Fourth Industrial Revolution, the need to take concrete actions in implementing Bogor Goals which will expire in 2020, future of APEC post-2020, as well as strengthening inclusive and sustainable growth in the digital era.
