PRIME MINISTER
TRANSCRIPT OF PRESS CONFERENCE WITH THE PRIME MINISTER THE
HON.! PJ KEATING, M. P..
FOUR SEASONS HOTEL, SEATFILE U. S. A.
SATURDAY 20 NOVEMBER, 1993
E OE PROOF COPY
PM: Good afternoon. Today when the APEC leaders -met under the chairmanship of
President Clinton I think one can say it was a completely historic occasion. For
the first time having the leaders of the major Asia-Pacific economies meet and the
significance of it was, I think, a tremendous thing for relations in the region. The
atmospherics of the mecting were terrific. The chemistry, the relationship
between each individual, thc. I think, diminished fears that some counres may
have about the US and its motives and the whole, if you like, development of
APEC to date. A lot of those things, I think, fell to the wayside and we had a very
good and cooperative discussion. The thing about these couple of days is people
do get to know each other better. We had adin= crlast night and by the time they
got on board today they were all chatting around about nothing in particular, and
everything in general, until they then got on to the more formal discussions and
the more formal discussions today were, I thought, very productive. The
contributions were very thoughtful and quite a lot, I think, was achieved.
The first thing that was achieved was that evcrybody thought the meeting was a
success, so much so that they have decided to have another one next year in
Indonesia in 1994. As well, there was unanimity of opinion that now was the
chance to do the, if you like, the triple. And that wus NAFTA, APEC and GAIT.
And there was a determination on the part of everybody theme to try and press the
Uruguay Round to a succcssful conclusion, and President Clinton walked away
with thc support of everybody in thc doing of that
There was also an understanding, I think. of the need for closer cooperation in
APEC if emerging bottle necks to gruwth are to bc avoided. Leaders rccognised
there are bottle necks to growth, that while these Asia-Pacific economnies have 13 3 03
grown strongiy, they have mostiv gown from a smaii base. and they arm with the
cneray demands. infrastructure demands. ana other issues. goin2 to run up against
some orobiems over time. And it was gcneraily agreed that they needed to be
avoided and work needed to be done to think about them.
They weicomed the Eminent Persons Groun challenge to achieve freer trade in
Asia and the Pacific. and the next oracticai steps agreed inciude: a meeting of
ΓΈ-conomic munisters. tinance ministers. on macroeconomic development; a
-heeting on neiping smail and meoium business to understana what they believe
APEC could deliver to them, and how APEC might hel; and an examination of
the links between energy use and the environment, because of the enormous
energy which is _ olng to be consumed in these economies over the next few
y. ears.
We agreed to set up a business forum, it hasn't got a name at the moment, but lets
call it a round table for the purposes of giving it a name, with two representative
of business from each country to identify ways of facilitating trade, and to give
APFC a business perspective on how and in which ways governments might be
able to help the genera] development of the policy settings to promote business in
the region.
Between now and the next meeting, the heads of government agreed that
ministers and officials should work on common non-binding investment
principles as a first step towards a regional investment agreement which I
thought was a particularly useful thing to do. And generally there was also quite
broad ranging discussion about the needs of the developing Asia-Pacific
economies and also the needs of the larger industrial economics like the United
States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand etc. their relatively slow growth over
the last few years, and the attendant problems of quite high levels of
unemployment. We had a very useful discussion around those things as well. It
was agreed that the stronger motor economies, such as the Germany, Japan,
helps the Asia-Pacific in the same way as the Asia-Pacific growth can help the
motor economies.
So it was. I thought, a first class discussion all morning and afternoon. Leader
went away, I think, convinced that the step they have taken to meet was a step
well taken, and that they should do the same again next year. I think that the
impression everyone else had was that they all felt much easier with one another
towards the end of it, they fell they could talk to each other easily about most any
topic. Some of the countries represented don't have any forum to discuss
economic policy. This is particularly true of China and Japan, and China and
Korea, or indeed the US and China. Even though Japan and the U. S. meet in the
Gi7. Korea doesn't, nor does Indonesia or the ASFAN States. as well as Australia.
So it was a particul-rly good meeting, and I think everyone who attended it was
buoyed by it. and we all look forward to it occurring next year in 1994.
It was proposed by President Kim Young San that we meet a second time in
19.94. This was generally agreed and President Soeharto said he was honoured to
issue an invitation for a leaders meeting concurrent with the APEC ministerial
meertings which will be held during 1994.
So I would be happy to talk questions from you.
1: Mr Ke~ ating you said one of thc things you wanted to achievc out of this was to
give more poiitical authority to thc APEC process. Do you believe that todays
mecting has actually advanccd the cause of APEC beyond what was achieved in
the ministerial meeting?
PM Yes I do. think that the leaders meeting had its own separate dynamic, as I
thought it would, and the leaders were prepared to push the agenda a bit further,
not only endorsing the things undertaken by ministers at the ministerial meeting,
but to advance a little further in some of those areas that I mentioned.
j. Mr Prime Minister when you say that the leaders welcomed thc EPG challenge to
cut tariffs in the Asia-Pacific. does this mean that you think that the target date of
1996 is still achievable in terms of starting to dismantle tariffs?
PM: I wouldn't have particularly endorsed that, no. But I think that the leaders thought
that the EPO report was a challenge to be met. that free and fuller trade in the
area was something that ought to be done and could be donc. Though we didn't
go through thc EPG report ticking this and crossing that. Except to pick up those,
that is endorsement of the ministerial work, and to go on to do those other things.
That is, work on common non-binding investment rules that might lead to a
formal investment agrement. and the meeting of economic ministers' to consider
the development of maciocvonomic policy instruments, in some countries and the
development of economic policy.
And also the question of helping small and medium business examine their links
with energy usc and the envir'onment. These things, I think, were all vcry useful
things. In other words, the leaders have had a meeting, it's endorsed the vision
statement which you have, it's gone on to say this has been so successful we ought
to have another one next year in the interim we will do these things as well as
pick up the work of the ministerial meeting.
J: Prime Minister was therm any discussion of Malaysia's absence and did anybody
volunteer to try to bring them on board?
IPM: There was no discussion. Only a question of which I think~ President Clinton
fielded at the midday press conferenic. 330.5
J: Mr Keating, yesterday when Mr Clinton was talking about APEC, he, in a
likened it to setting up of bodies like NATO and the IMF. Do you see APEC in
( inaudible) grand kind of scale and can you talk about what you sec as the full
potential of APEC.
PM: I think that APEC is a tremendously important vehicle for regional economic
cooperation and trade facilitation. It is not portending a formal, nationally agreed,
parliamentary endorsed, or public cndorsed, set of proposals as say the Maastuicht
Treaty or the Treaty of Rome or a supra-national bureaucracy like the Brssels
bureaucracy who make decisions for other national governments. Not that. But
certainly a cooperative structure which can do many of the same things, but in a
cooperative way. The mere fact that these people are sitting down, the US with
China, and China with Japan, and Korea with China, and Korea with Japan and
Indonesia with everyone else and all the ASEANs, Australia as well. Just of itself
produces a familiarity and some trust. Because everyone agreed that the personal
relations are so important, and I think they are.
Now, while countries will still always have interests, and often they won't
compromise their interests, but they will have interests, but I think the personal
relations are terribly important. And that has been shown over and over again in
foreign relations, and it's just as true here. So, I do think this is a very historic
body and I don't think that the President's words about it are sort of, basically
superfluous hyperbole. I think it does truly reflect the historic nature of the
gathering.
J: Mr Keating. yesterday when Mr Clinton was talking about APEC, he, in a speech,
likened it to setting up of bodies like NATO and the IMF. Do you see APEC in
( inaudible) grand kind of scale and can you talk about what you see as the full
potential of APEC7
PM: I think that APEC is a tremendously important vehicle for regional economic
cooperation and trade facilitation. It is not portending a formal, nationally agreed,
parliamentary endored, or public endorsed, set of proposals as say the Maastrieht
Treaty or the Treaty of Rome or a supra-national bureaucracy like the Brussels
hureaucracy who make decisions for other national governments. Not that. But
certainly a cooperative structure which can do many of the same things, but in a
cooperative way. The mere fact that these people are sitting down, the US with
China, and China with Japan. and Korea with China, and Korea with Japan and
Indonesia with everyone else and all the ASEANs, Australia as well. Just of itself
produces a familiarity and some trust. Because everyone agreed that the personal
relations are so important, and I think they are.
330
Now while countries will still always have interests and often they won't
compromise their interests but they will have interests but 1 think the personal
relations are terrbly important. Now that has been shown over and over again in
foreign relations, and it is just as true here. So, I do think this is a very historic
body and I don't think that the President's words about it arc basically a
superfluous hyperbole. I think it does truly reflect the historic nature of the
gathering.
I: Prime Minister, at lunchtime President Clinton seemed to indicate that, come June
next year, that he would have better news for Americans about the Japan-
Amenican trading relationship. Will you havc similar better news for Australians
in terms of access for our rice and better access for our beef and other
commodities?
PM: Well, I don't know if that is exactly the kind of news the President wishes to
convey except that I think that he is developing a very good relationship with
Prime Minister Hosokawa. The interest of both of them in this agcnda today and
their contributions on the way through mean that you reay have got a meeting of
minds on these things. Now, countries have interests but, again. they do realise
there is a lot of common interests there. It may be that there is a view that the G7
is not producing the goods. That was not said by them today but that perhaps is a
view that I have and maybe a view they have too.
J: PrimneMinister inaudible.. talked about finance ministers' meeting and also
consulting on macroeconomic developments. Do you envisage there will be a
greater coordination of economic policies between the APEC countries which atc
keen to do perhaps some... inaudible..?
PM: No, I don't think so. While macroeconomic discussions can be important and they
can influence policies J don't know that formal policy coordination, so to speak.
is really on the agenda for them. But in many countries of the APEC area they do
lack monetary and fiscal instruments and so therm is a lot to be said for finance
ministers talking about these subjects. Not just to convey their own experiences
or even the assist in setting up some of these macroeconomic instruments or
advise upon them just to discuss where the economies are going. To discuss
with national ministers their views of their economies and their potential is. I
think, very important because while a lot of people believe this stuff can be picked
up in this central bank bulletin or that central bank bulletin is never like hearing it
from the horses mouth. T7hat is, to actually have the person running these
economics participate in such a gathering. So, I think, that can be very useful.
J: Undcr the umbrella of this APEC meeting we have seen significant bilateral
meetings between the Chinese and the Americans and also the opening up of
relations again between New Zealand and the United States. Is this a proper role
for an organisation of tis kind and can I also bear your specific comments on the 3307
kind o. that seenm to be moving between the New Zealanders and the
Americans?
PM:-Well. I think that one of the good spin-offs of APEC is you can have a series of
bilateral meetings. I met four or five leaders bilaterally as you know and I found
those meetings to be very usefual. No doubt so did othcr leaders. It does give you
an opportunity to discuss whatever subjects are of interest at the time even if they
are not purely trade subjects. So. it is a very good opportunity to have a meeting
and to be able to range over those things in the context of the broader common
objectives of greater growth and higher tradcs and better incomes and better
employment. You mentioned New Zealand. There is no doubt that Prime Minister Bolger's
engagement heme and his discussions with the President obviously helps that
relationship where formally New Zealand officials were not having discusion at
Secretary level in the United States. There arc still difficulties in the New.
Zealand relationship obviously, with their anti-nuclear policy and that would
remain a policy difficulty but in terms of the relationship obviously a meeting like
this improves it.
3 Prime Minister, would you give us a flavour of how the meetings were conducted.
Did everyone speak in turn Or was there give and take and I am particularly
interested in what the contribution of President Jiang was and was there any
interchange with the Taiwan minister?
PM: We were seated virtually in an arc. There were consecutive translations so leaders
spoke when they wished. They gave an indication to the President and he would
call them in turn and they had their say. Some started off scripted reading a little
text. As the meeting went on, all the participants were really speaking
extemporaneously. Some, of course, spoke extemporaneously right from the start.
As the meeting went on it had a mome free wheeling quality to it. I thought that
was very good. So, there were people coming in for maybe 30 seconds or a
minute then someone else would come back in and then some onc would speak
for three minutes and some one would then go on and reply to some of that for
two. It had a generally discursive quality to it. I thought there was trcmcndous
goodwill there. A great interest to comprehend quite technical things.
J: Like what?
PM: Talking about macroeconomic policy. The impacts upon -employment. The
whole question about the opcrations about monetary policy, whether it should
comprehend employment as well as price stability. The impacts of productivity
on employment. It is unlikely that such a discussion might have been held
years ago, for instance.
J: Mr Keating, Australia played a very big role in getting APEC off the ground and
you of course, played a big role in getting the Lzadcrs' meeting going. What do
you think is Australias role in APEC from here on?
PM: Australia has enjoyed the role it has had. That is, in shaping with other countries
seeking to give APEC a form and substance from the germ of an idea and see it
change over time. I would like to particularly pay tribute to the work of the
Foreign Minister in this Gareth Evans, and more latterly. Peter Cook, as Minister
for Tradc, who have certainly taken this issue up as something which can play a
defning role in an Asia-Pacific economy. Our colleague ministers and leaders
appreciate the role that Australia has played. We try and play a cooperative role
with other countries. Moving the agenda along but moving it along where people
feel comfortable for it to move.
J Did Australia oppose initially the entrance of Chile into APEC. If so, why? Will
the entrance of Chile into APEC in 1994 mean ha the President of Chile will be
at Jakarta?
PM: The answer to the last part of the question would be yes. We said that we would
not stand out againt any conscsus on Chile. APEC has started basically as
North and South Asia and the NAFTA arma It is defined by its trade in many
respects and I think, with any orgmnisation like this, which has some definition it
is important to deepe it before it is broadened. We can certainly accommodate
Chile but we would want to be able to move to some fairly firm criteria over time
which defines APEC and it is not an organisation which virtually anyone can join.
I think with an organisation that has got value, being stingy with membership is a
good policy. Not to be difficult, but to give the thing the respect it deserves and to
let people in if their interests are harmonious with the interests of the body
concerned.
J: Prime Minister you have spoken a lot about * the need to improve harmony of
standards inaudible. As a result of this meeting, in your view, is the Trade and
Investment Committee actually empowered to conduct substantive negotiations
towards harmonising product and investment standards, and if so, have you got
any... inaudible.
PM: Ministers will come back with work on hanmonised standards, customs
procedures, competition policy and legal and regulatory frameworks. Those sorts
of issues between now and the next meeting of the ministerial meeting and the
leaders meeting to see whether and in which ways wc can advance those.
1: Did you speA-anymore to Mr Clinton about a possible visit to Australia? 3309
PM: I said to him ofecourse, I invited him down and he said that he would like to covie
to Australia. Obviously an opporfune time would be whten he comes to Indonesia
in 1994 and we will try organise an itinerary now, though I don't know whether
we can at the time. Presidents ame pretty busy people and vrying to organize an
APEC leaders meeting plus some other country visits will be difficult to schedule
into anyone's schedule let alone President Clinton. He has indicated a willingnes
to come and said he would like to see Australia and of course, we would
absolutely be delighted to have him.
J Can you give us a readout of the discussion at the meeting of the micerence to a
ree trade and the region in Asia. In particular between two models of a
preferential region versus an MEFN type free trade. Could you also tell us what
Australia's position is on that issue? And finally if! I can. what is Australia's
position on the US-China debate on human rights?
PM: Let me deal with the first one. We seethis as basically apolicy of open
regionalism as we have always said. That is. if we can lower the impediments and
enhance the prospects for growth so that we can all participate particularly against
the backdrop of a successful outcome to the Uruguay Round, obviously trade
investment and incomes and with it employment, will be higher in the area than it
would otherwise be. We don't e it as being an exclusive area. We have made
that clear right from the stan. Fears that the body is going to be an exclusive one
or a trade bloc ame unfounded. T1here ame many things that can be done here. This
area has grown quite fast already without any agreement or any structures of the
APEC variety. Our fear is that we will run into problems and impediments so that
that growth won't be able to continue at the pace that it has and that is where
probably now there is a place and a role for an organisation like APEC to do that.
On the human rights question, I think the US position is pretty much the same as
Austraia's. That is that one of the defining things of preat democracies is respec
for human values and human decency expressed in the term human rights and
Australia has been completely clear about its attachment to those values and its
role in the Pacific, if you like championing and heralding those values. As with
the United States, they obviously see the China relationship in the broad,
comprehending this human rights question as in fact we do ourselves, by virtue of
the fact that we have resitabilised relations with China after Tienammen square in
1989. The same is true in respect of Indonesia.
1: Do you support the U. S. threat to impose trade sanctions against China..
inaudible..?
PM: Well, that is a Congressional threat and whether that materialises into the policy
of the administration, timc will tcll. The thing is, the United States has made
fairly clear its objections about human rights, but. I mean. we have ourselves. The
Tianazunen Square issue in Australia was a matter of great heart burning and all of
the ramifications of it were transmitted not just around the world, but to China in
particular.
-3: 3 1
J: Was human rights discussed in the meeting with China?
PM: No, no.
J1: Is there any possibility of including Russia into APEC since part of Russia is in
Asia?
PM: Well, again. there has to be a naturalness about APEC. They have to be
economies which have a preponderance of their exports in the area and where they
are rcaily involved in the commerce of the region. So, theme is going to be no easy
policy for joining. When decisions arc made about membership here they are
going to be very deliberate ones.
1: Do you stil believe that NAFTA will become a sub-group of APEC and did you
raise this with President Clinton?
PM: No, but obviously the United States is now trading into Asia and U. S. exports to
Asia am growing at three times the pace of Asian exports into the United States.
This is also true for Canada and it would be also true for Mexico. So, whether
they art actually trading as a trade entity is immxaterial. They'll still trade into the
Asia-Paeilic. APEC is far more integrated than NAFTA is. That is, trade within
the APEC area is already running at about 66%. NAFTA has an integration of
about So, the bigger shooting match is obviously going to be Asia-Pacific
trade. And I have no doubt that the United States will adapt to that trade whether
it has the cloak of NAFTA on or off.
J: Mr Keating, the Leades Statement taks about APEC being a new voice for the
Asia-Pacific in world afars. How often will we hear that voice, and in what
circumstance? And do you see an APEC voice being exercised more than once a
year at an event like this?
PM: I think, it's now meeting annually at ministerial level. It will obviously meet for
two consecutive years at leaders level and may go on to meet regularly. I think it
probably will go on to meet regularly beyond that. And that's a, for the economic
development and history of a region like that, that's quite frequent. I mean, what
is historic about this body is that there is no forum for these very large countries
to talk to one another. And, particularly for China and Japan and China and
Korea or for Indonesia and the United States. It provides not just a body which
can facilitate enhanced trade and investmnt but one which can obviously, by
virtue of its existence and the personalities, lower suspicions, do something
material to ease tensions and provide better understanding between nations of
their respective diffcrences and interests. Now, I think, in that respect it's a very
clear benefit.
J1: Prime Minister, in the Australia-China bilateral was human rights discussed at all? ~ 3311
TEL: 3. Dec. 93 11: 01 No. 015 P. 02
PM: No. I went mainly to APEC topics. I visited China this year and made clear there
our position on human rights to Premier Li Peng, where I particularly emphasised
Tibet and the continuing problems of that country and China's management and
stewardship of it. This bilateral was largely about APEC, about the structure and
some bilateral issues such as the things we are doing cooperatively with China on
wool and other things we are doing on the trade side.
J: Mr Clinton, after the meeting, spoke again of the idea of the APEC community as
opposed to a cooperation forum.-Was there any discussionl on the change of the
name today?
PM: No. I think the President's use of the term community reflected, I think, the
generally eased concerns about the notion of that implying the sort of Brusselsstyle
bureaucraey. And therm wasn't any demur from him using that term so, he
did talk about a Pacific community earlier this year and he spoke about a
community at the press conference today. The mere fact that APEC's trade is as
integrated as it is gives-jtan economic community status but it is a small Vc
commnunity not big dieaning a Treaty of Rome or a nationally endorsed
Maastricht Treaty orusupra-niational bureaucracy of the Brussels variety.
And I think that, that understood, there was no real concern amongst APEC
leaders about the term or the meaning of the term. In general, I think I would
have to say to you that APEC has developed quite fast, with a lot of definition, a
lot of form, a fair bit of trust and a lot of ambition. It's come a long way in a short
time, as it needs to do, to accommodate the growth problems of the Asia-Pacific
area. And I pay tribute to everybody who has been involved with it, those other
countries which have tried to find a new model to work in in the Asia-Pacific and
I think we made quite tremendously important steps over these couple of days in
giving APEC so much more authority at leaders level than it could have otherwise
had.
J: Now that you've had the Leaders' meeting do you feel more confident about the
future of APEC and being able to build regional cooperation or is the magnitude
of the task, the differences and the problems, become more apparent?
PM: Oh no, I think I feel far more confident about it, I think there's a tremendous
atmosphere of cooperation about it. And the fact that we could conceive such a
structure and see it take the form it has with the quite disparate countries involved,
with all their very clear interests and differences, is quite a special thing to have
happened.
Ends.
APEC Leaders Economic Vision Statement
We have held an unprecedented meeting of the economic
leaders of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum. In this
post Cold War era, we have an opportunity to build a new economic
foundation for the Asia Pacific that harnesses the energy of our
diverse economies, strengthens cooperation and promotes
prosperity. Our meting reflects the emergence of a new voice for the
Asia Pacific in world affairs. As we prepare to enter the
twenty-first century, we believe our dynamic region, representing
forty percent of the world's population and fifty percent of its
CNP, will play an important role in the global economy, leading
the way on economic growth and trade expansion.
The foundation of our economic growth has been the open
multilateral trading system. Therefore, we pledge our utmost
efforts to bring the Uruguay Round to a successful conclusion by
Decembcr 15. We are determined the Asia Pacific region will lead
the way f. n taking concrete steps to produce the strongest
possible outcome in Geneva. Increased participation by APEC
economies in a strengthened GA77 system also will facilitate
greater regional cooperation.
Our success has been the result of the ability of our
societies to adapt to changing circumstances. Our economies are
moving toward interdependence and there is a growing sense of
community among us. We are united in our commitment to create a
stable and prosperous future for our people.
Recognizing our economic interdependence as well as our
economic diversity, we envision a community of Asia Pacific
economies in which:
o The spirit of openness and partnership deepens, enabling us
to find cooperative solutions to the challenges of our
rapidly changing regional and global economy;
o Wc are a vast Asia Pacific market of two billion people
where dynamic economic growth continues, contributing to an
expanding world economy and supporting an open international
trading system;
o We continue to reduce trade and investment barriers so that
our trade expands within the region and with the world and
goods, services, capital and investment flow freely among
our economies;
o Our pcople share the benefits of economic growth through
higher incomes, high skilled and high paying jobs and
increased mobility;
,. 43-20)-1Q -93 11i: 19BAEI S & S OFF ICE343" 30 P. 02/ W
BLFKE IS PRESS OFFICE 2
0 Improved education and training produce rising literacy
rates, provide the skills for maintaining economic growth
and encourage the sharing of ideas that contribute to the
arts and science;
o Advances in telecommunications and transportation shrink
time and distance barriers in our region and link our
economies so that goods and people move quickly and
efficiently;
o Our environment is improved as we protect the quality of our
air, water and green spaces and manage our energy sources
and renewable resources to ensure sustainable growth and
provide a more secure future for our people.
we recognize this vision will become a reality only if we
work together actively to secure it. We are convinced we can
succeed. We intend to use our shared vision as a guide for
developing the future of our region.
We reaffirm our support for the continued devto, ent of
APRC as a forum dedicated to producing tangible economic benefits
to the region. We urge APEC to expand its economic dialogue and
advance its specific work projects. The entrepreneurial spirit
and markt-oriented policies that have driven our economic
dynamism will continue to be fostered within APEC.
We welcome the challenge presented to us in the report of
the APEC Eminent Persons Group to achieve free trade in the Asia
Pacific, advance global trade liberalization and launch concrete
programs to move us toward those long-term goals. We ask APEC to
undertake work aimed at deepening and broadening the outcome of
the Uruguay Round, strengthening trade and investment
liberalization in the region, and facilitating regional
cooperation, including in such areas as standards.
We agree to convene a meeting of APEC Finance Ministers to
consult on broad economic issues including macroeconomic
developments and capital flows. We believe such discussions will
help us address some of the challenges facing the region,
including ensuring non-inflationary regional growth, financing
investment and infrastructure development, and promoting capital
market development.
We ask business leaders to establish a Pacific Business
Forum to identify issues APEC should address to facilitate
regional trade and investment and encourage the further
development of business networks throughout the region. We also
ask APEC to strengthen its policy dialogue on small and medium
size business enterprises.
1993 11: 22P BM
191913:~ BILSA P~ RKEESS OFFICE333 . G
3
We agree to make an Investment in our future generations by
establishing an APEC Education Program to develop regional
cooperation in higher education, study key regional economic
issues, improve worker skills, facilitate cultural and
intellectual exchanges, enhance labor mobility and foster
understanding of the diversity of our region. We agree to
cstablish an APEC Business Volunteer Program to promote
cooperation among us in the areas of human resource development
and the exchange of management skills and techniques.
As members of APEC, we are committed to deepening ouzr spirit
of community based on our shared vision of achieving stability,
security and prosperity for our peoples.
APEC Economic Leaders
Seattle, Washington
November 20, 1993 TGTAL P. 004
i-iOU-20-1993 11: 2234330 P. 004
November 20, 1993302mPg1
-Saturday, November 20, 1993
Remarks by President Clinton At Apec Meeting Blake Island Puget Sound
Washington Saturday
REMARKS BY PRESIDENT CLINTON AT APEC MEETING
BLAKE ISLAND, PUGET SOUND, WASHINGTON
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 1993
PRESIDENT CLINTON: Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen, as we
ipproach the end of a week of APEC activities, we've just completed
-hree hours of meetings among 14 APEC economic leaders. It's been a
) leasure for me and an honor for the United States to host this week's
events and to convene this historic meeting on this beautiful island.
The Asian-Pacific region will play an increasingly vital role for
nation and the world. The region is home to 40 percent of the
. ld's people, includes the world's fastest growing economies. And
: he leaders standing here represent half the world' s economic output.
This week's events have been a success for all the region's
? eople. we've laid a foundation for regional efforts to create jobs,
raise incomes, expand business opportunities, and foster regional
aarmony. This week we took several tangible steps towards these
goals. On Monday and Tuesday, over 1,500 business people engaged in
: rade came together to focus on the region's potential to benefit
: heir bottom lines. Later in the week, our ministers agreed to a
? ackage of market opening measures designed to help bring the Uruguay
-round of the GATT to a successful conclusion by December 15th. And
: he ministerial meeting agreed to develop an action plan in the near
future to reduce barriers to business throughout our region, such as
differing product standards.
The capstone of this week's activities has been this first-ever
-aders meeting. Our discussions this morning, which will continue in
the afternoon, give us a chance to become better acquainted, and to
compare our visions for our own nations and for our diverse and
dynamic region. By meeting and talking, we've been able to forge a
stronger regional identity and a stronger purpose. That purpose is
captured in the vision statement we just released.
The statement sets forth our shared view of a regional economy
characterized by openness, cooperation, dynamic growth, expanded
trade, improved transportation and communications and high-skilled,
high-paying jobs. We've welcomed the challenge of the eminent persons
group to achieve free trade in the Asian-Pacific region, advance
global trade liberalization, and launch concrete specific programs to
move us toward these long-term goals.
In our discussions last evening and today, I've been struck by
how many priorities we share; strong sustainable economic growth, more
open markets, better jobs, working conditions and living standards for
our own people, better education for our children and our adults, and
protection of the region's unique environment. 3: 02pm Page 1
November 20, 1993302mPg2
of course, we will not always agree on how to achieve those
joals. But at least now, for the first time, our region has a means
: o hold serious policy discussions on such questions as how to remove
: rade barriers, or how to sustain robust growth.
If you asked me to summarize in a sentence what we've agreed, it
_ s this; we've agreed that the Asian-Pacific region should be a united
) ne, not divided. We've agreed that our economic policies should be
) pen, not closed. We've agreed that we should begin to express that
: onviction by doing everything we possibly can to get a good GATT
igreement by December the
With today's meeting, we're helping the Asian-Pacific to become a
jenuine community, not a formal legal structure, but rather a
: ommunity of shared interests, shared goals and shared commitment to
i-tually beneficial cooperation. The development of that community is
tainly in the interests of the American people and all the people
) t this region. We should be pleased with the progress we've made.
\ nd let me say again how honored I am, on behalf of the United States,
: o have had the opportunity to host all these leaders. Thank you,
. rery much. Yes? Q Mr. President, there was no sign of any flexibility by
T-hina in the areas dispute that you have or with Japan on trade
: mbalances. Can you say, were any minds or attitudes changed during
: he course of this meeting?
PRESIDENT CLINTON: Well, you're referring to meetings that I had
iesterday and discussions we had today. I'm the host of a meeting
. here we discussed economic issues. And I frankly believe by I'll
nake you a prediction on the economic issues by next June or July
-certainly by a year from now, I believe that the responsibilities
the United States and Japan to do more to promote global economic
_) wth will have been, in large measure, advanced. And I think you
vill see that we've done some of the things that we should, both of
Is. So, today we focused on what we could do together economically.
% nd I think that's what I ought to respond to today.
Yes, ma'am.
Q Mr. President, the fact that this time you invited both
representatives from Taiwan and China to join you to discuss about the
vision of Asian-Pacific area, I wonder, how do you find your
respective vision for this area? And, in your opinion, how does this
feeting affect the relationship between Taiwan and China?
PRESIDENT CLINTON: Well, that's something for them to determine.
I invited, as the host, all the members of this organization which
was the appropriate thing to do. Actually, I'm struck by how much
common investment and common activity there is now, and by the common
3: 02pm Page 2
November 20, 19933: 2mPg3
rategies of high savings and investment, hard work, and
. trepreneurialism that are sweeping that part of the world. It is
. mensely impressive, I think, to anyone who has observed it.
Yes, go ahead either one. Flip a coin.
Q I'll go after you.
Q Mr. President, what do you think about Malaysia's absence
of Dr. Mahathir's absence from this meeting? And what do you think
) out EAEC the East Asia Economic Conference?
PRESIDENT CLINTON: Well, I'm not against first of all, I'm in
: vor of anything which increases regional economic cooperation and
Ivances the economic interests of people, as long as it doesn't close
ff economic opportunities for other. And I wish Mr. Mahathir were
and I look forward to meeting him someday.
Yes? Q Mr. President, how serious is the situation in North Korea
3 a threat to this whole region, and is that something that you
Lscussed today at the meeting?
PRESIDENT CLINTON: We didn't discuss it today, but it was
. scussed yesterday. And I look forward to meeting with President Kim
i Washington. He's going back to Washington, and we'll be meeting
iere and talking about it. It is a source of concern to us, but one
iat we believe we can find solutions to and we're going to be
iking some initiatives in that area in the not to distant future.
Yes, ma'am?
PRESIDENT CLINTON: Mr. President, is New Zealand now
iguratively out of the cold, if not literally? Have you now restored
political relationship with New Zealand?
PRESIDENT CLINTON: Actually, we're out in the cold today.
1jaughter.) The Prime Minister and I had a good talk about that, and
a agreed that we would at least take a good look at our relationship
rid to see what else might be done. We have an awful lot in common
rid a lot of natural instincts toward friendship and cooperation. And
think both of us are uncomfortable with what has become of our
alationship over the last several years. So, we'll take another look
t it and we may have something to say about it, but not today and not
omorrow. Yes, ma'am, in the back there.
Q Mr. President, when you're talking about NAFTA, you
entioned several times Taiwan, Japan, and China are the three major
bstacles when you're dealing with U. S. trade deficit. A lot of
eople think that was not very helpful when you're trying to cooperate
ith Asian countries. I was wondering, after this meeting
PRESIDENT CLINTON: Wait, wait, wait, wait. You can ask the
3: 02pm Page 3
November 20, 199330pmPg4
ruestion, but let me restate what I said. What I said to the American
Deople was simply the fact that the people who were against NAFTA
3cted as if Mexico essentially was going to displace the entire
. ndustrial production of the United States, or significant portions of
And I pointed out the fact that we have a trade surplus with
lexico and that our largest operating trade deficits are with Japan.
' hina, and Taiwan. That's simply a fact. That's not an act of
iostility, it's just a stated fact. So, go ahead, ask the question.
Q Yes, the question is, after this meeting, will you think
: hat in the future, the United States is willing to use cooperation
. nstead of Articles 301 type of trade retaliations threat to deal with
: his problem? PRESIDENT CLINTON: Well, I think, first of all, we've used
\ rticle 301 rather sparingly. And secondly, we do seek cooperation.
' hat's the whole purpose of this meeting. That's one of the reasons
it I wanted all the leaders to come here, because I think that we
iave so much in common in terms of our shared views about what the
2conomy of the 21st century ought to look like and what our roles
Dught to be that I think we can do a lot through cooperate. And we're
working very hard to do that. In the end, if we're going to develop
: he right kind of free market system, it is going to have to be a
:: ooperative one, but it's going to have to be one that is plainly in
: he interests of all the people involved in the system. That is,
averyone has to be going forward together.
MS. Last question.
PRESIDENT CLINTON: Yes?
Q Mr. President, how hard and fast is the December
ieadline for successful completion of the GATT Round? It's been slid
slipped a couple of times previously. Would you be prepared to
2xtend it, if you don't have agreement by then?
PRESIDENT CLINTON: Well, it's not entirely up to me, is it?
nd then and, of course, we have certain legislative authority in
merica, as you know, that controls that. All I can tell you is that
I think we want to take this moment of opportunity that, frankly,
: he House of Representatives and I hope today that the Senate will
give impetus to through NAFTA and that we are trying to give energy
: o through our meeting here and through our clear statement again that
we want the Asian-Pacific region to be united not divided
economically, open not closed, and committed to GATT. We want to
seize this moment to try to get it done now. And I've always found
that when you're working on an objective, you shouldn't discuss what
you'll do if you don't get there until after you don't get there. We
still think we can be there, and we're going to try.
Thank you very much. END 3: 02pm Page 4