MSG089G/01E CHILE: Through APEC, Chile May Link South America, Pacific Basin
SANTIAGO, Nov 08 (IPS) - Chilean President Eduardo Frei said Tuesday that his country's upcoming Asian-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) membership would allow all of South America increased participation in the Pacific region.
Frei will participate next Tuesday in the summit of APEC heads of state in Bogor, Indonesia, at which time Chile's incorporation as the 18th member of the bloc will be ratified.
He stressed that Chile is the first APEC member from South America and - after Mexico - the second from Latin America.
The President will attend the APEC meeting in Indonesia during a Nov. 10-23 tour including Australia, Japan and South Korea. The tour will include a delegation of three Ministers, six Deputies and 10 officials from the government, the Foreign Ministry and the state Copper Corporation.
Some 100 Chilean businessmen will also be present for meetings with their APEC colleagues in Jakarta and bilateral encounters with investors in Australia, Japan and Korea.
Frei said the group, which constitutes the largest Chilean business delegation to accompany a President abroad, is an indication of private sector interest in the Asian-Pacific area.
The world's largest economic-commercial group, APEC is made up of Australia, Brunei, Canada, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and the United States.
According to Frei, both Colombia and Peru are interested in eventual membership, with Chile's integration acting as a first step for South American participation in the Pacific basin.
The Chilean leader said his government hoped to strengthen not only trade relations, but also political and economic ties with the other 17 APEC members.
He stressed that entry to the APEC is compatible with Chile's efforts to reach agreements with the Southern Cone Common Market (Mercosur) and the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).
The country's presence in the East Pacific will benefit the Mercosur, given the interoceanic integration proposed by the four members (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay), he said.
Frei added that over half of Chile's exports and more than 40 percent of its imports involve trade with the Asia-Pacific region. He called for a consolidation of trade relations and broader investment possibilities.
Chilean exports currently total some 11 billion dollars a year, but the South American nation hopes to increase them to 20 billion by the end of the decade, for which APEC membership is fundamental, according to Frei.
© Inter Press Service (2014) — All Rights Reserved. Original source: Inter Press Service