Progress sought on Bogor Goals and WTO's DDA talks At the APEC 2005 Summit, the "Busan Roadmap" to be proposed by the host economy, Korea will focus on the need for an effective multilateral trade structure by concluding the Doha Round (DDA) negotiations by 2006. The Busan declaration would be a milestone for trade and investment liberalization by APEC member economies to accomplish the Bogor goals on schedule. At a news briefing for media representatives prior to the APEC summit, foreign minister Ban Ki-moon said that the Korean government expects government leaders and high-level officials of member economies to be in full attendance at the forthcoming economic leaders' meeting in Busan. The heads of government will attend various events of APEC 2005, including two separate economic leaders' meetings on Nov. 18 and 19, the Dialogue with APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC), luncheons and official dinners, as well as cultural events and other official APEC functions. As the Chair of APEC 2005, President Roh Moo-hyun will work through a very tight schedule as he hosts all of these events, attends the CEO Summit, and holds bilateral summit meetings with several heads of states of participating member economies. The joint declaration that will be adopted at the forthcoming meeting, will include a united stance and vision of the leaders on major issues of concern, such as the acceleration of trade and investment liberalization and the promotion of security for the global community. Moreover, as this year's meeting takes place ahead of the WTO ministerial meeting slated for Dec. in Hong Kong, the foreign minister said that he believed that the leaders would endeavor to adopt a Ministerial Statement on the Doha Development Agenda (DDA). This Special Statement is expected to express the strong determination of the leaders that DDA negotiations must be successfully concluded by the end of 2006. To achieve this, constructive contributions are vital by all WTO member states. APEC therefore also must play a leading role in this process and consultations are under way among the member economies on specific details of the draft. The leaders are also expected to endorse the "Busan Roadmap," which will propose the future direction of APEC in efforts to accomplish the Bogor Goals of realizing trade and investment liberalization in the region by 2010 for advanced countries, and by 2020 for developing countries. The primary focus of the Busan Roadmap includes providing assistance for a multilateral trade structure; promoting highstandard RTAs/FTAs; improving business and investment environments; and cultivating strategic regional capabilities. This will serve as a milestone in future efforts for trade and investment liberalization by the member economies to accomplish the Bogor goals on schedule. Likewise, the Korean Government is pursuing trade and investment liberalization as its foremost economic policy goal. In this context, the foreign minister pointed out that Korea is playing a leading role in assessing tthe midway-evaluation of efforts toward achieving the Bogor goals and the adoption of a DDA Special Statement. In addition, the Roh administration is simultaneously promoting FTAs with a number of countries, as part of Korea's proactive efforts to further open its economy to global competition and reform. Foreign minister Ban clarified a misconception in a recent Washington Post article, "South Korean President warns of global inequities ahead of summit," regarding a comment made by the President during a luncheon with foreign correspondents in Seoul on November 8. The President's comments reflected his view that as a supplementary measure to realize the further acceleration of free trade and investment worldwide, efforts need to be strengthened in overcoming the problem of the social divide which many countries of the world are experiencing. Through this, Mr. Ban stressed, the President meant to convey a message emphasizing the need to maintain and develop a stable and sustainable market. Meanwhile, the foreign minister told reporters, the forthcoming APEC economic leaders' meeting would set the stage for the heads of government to commit themselves to the prevention of an Avian flu pandemic and remedial measures. It has emerged as a major threat not only in the Asia-Pacific region but the entire world, and there was a need to adopt a leaders' initiative on this matter. The foreign minister went on to say that President Roh would hold bilateral summits with the heads of state of the United States, China, Russia and Peru, who would be paying official or working visits to Korea during APEC 2005. He added that a series of bilateral summits is also in the pipeline with government leaders of Canada, Japan, Brunei, Vietnam, Australia, Indonesia and Chile. Seizing these opportunities, he said that Korea hoped to make active contributions not only in the development of bilateral ties but also toward the maintenance of regional stability and co-prosperity by further strengthening cooperative ties with other countries in the region. To this end, minister. Ban disclosed that he and the minister for trade, Kim Hyun-jong would co-Chair the trade ministers' meeting, which will be held in Busan from November 15 to 16, ahead of the economic leaders' meeting. At the 1st retreat of ministers responsible for trade in the morning of Nov. 15, participants will discuss various trade issues, including strengthening of multilateral trade structure and midway- evaluation of efforts to achieve Bogor goals. At the 2nd retreat of ministers responsible for trade in the afternoon, he revealed that the ministers would discuss security for mankind, anti-corruption efforts and reform issues. Based on the outcomes of discussions at these retreats, comprehensive review discussions that have been under way within APEC this year would be held, and proposals by "high-level officials" would be endorsed at the plenary session on Nov. 16. The outcomes of discussions at the meeting of ministers responsible for trade will be comprehensively reflected and announced in the ministerial joint statement. Foreign minister Ban added that bilateral meetings would be held with foreign ministers of 10 member economies before and after the official ministerial meeting. He planned to hold talks with the Australian foreign minister, who would pay a working visit, and separate talks would take place in Busan with foreign ministers of the United States, China, Japan, Russia, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Brunei and Peru. And even though Panama is not an APEC member economy, Minister Ban mentioned that he would also hold talks with the Vice President/Foreign minister of Panama who will be visiting Korea during APEC 2005. He pointed out that the minister for trade, Kim Hyun-jong also plans to hold separate talks with trade ministers of the United States, China and ASEAN for discussions on pending trade issues. Meanwhile, in Busan, final preparations are being wrapped up for the successful hosting of APEC 2005. For this purpose, the situation analysis office was set up in BEXCO on Nov. 1, and the situation analysis office for lodgings of heads of government was set up on Nov. 7. The host nation's foreign minister appealed to the people of Korea to give their all-out support for APEC 2005 to be remembered as a successful and historic occasion. By fully understanding the importance of the forthcoming APEC economic leaders' meeting the Korean people would benefit from the positive effects that will follow. APEC 2005 would be a great opportunity for Korea to impress the entire world with not only the country's economic power, but also the mature public spirit of the host city, Busan. He thanked the people of Busan for their deep interests in and passion for APEC 2005 in the process of preparing for this landmark meeting. Foreign minister Ban concluded the press briefing by encouraging active cooperation of all Koreans and the media for the successful hosting of APEC 2005. In particular, he hoped that all Koreans would show their kind and dynamic nature by warmly welcoming the foreign dignitaries, demonstrating a mature public spirit, despite some inconveniences that might be caused by traffic control, etc. during APEC 2005.