MAIN PAGE | EVENTS & PROGRAMS | 2001 | IGM | SPEECHES | KOSAKU INABA
PACIFIC BASIN ECONOMIC COUNCIL
MAIN PAGE | EVENTS & PROGRAMS | 2001 | IGM | SPEECHES | KOSAKU INABA
Regional Vitality in the 21st Century
April 6-10, 2001 — Tokyo, Japan
Mr. Kosaku Inaba
On the occasion of this, the 34th International General Meeting of the Pacific Basin Economic Council, we are extremely honored to have the presence of Their Imperial Highnesses the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess. We are also honored to have with us His Excellency Mr. Yoshiro Mori, Prime Minister of Japan, His Excellency Mr. Fidel Ramos, Former President and Special Envoy of the Republic of the Philippines, His Excellency Mr. Jin Nyum, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance & Economy of the Republic of Korea, Her Excellency Ms. Dato' Seri Rafidah Aziz, Minister of International Trade and Industry of Malaysia, The Honorable Mr. Iwao Matsuda, Senior Vice-Minister of Economy, Trade & Industry of Japan, and His Excellency, Mr. Rey Pagtakhan, Secretary of State for Asian-Pacific of Canada. To all these distinguished guests, and to all of you who have come to attend this International General Meeting in Tokyo, on behalf of PBEC, I would like to express my deep appreciation to you for attending the meeting, and to use this Opening Plenary Session to express a few words of greeting. Ever since its founding in 1967, PBEC, has energetically and wholeheartedly carried out activities to encourage economic interchange and expansion of cooperation in areas of trade and investment amongst the various countries in the Asia-Pacific region. The number of countries and regions participating in our organization has steadily grown, so that when we include Singapore, which is using the occasion of this Tokyo General Meeting to formally join us as a member, now we comprise 20 member economies. It is our firm belief that the activities carried out by PBEC have, in combination with government-level economic cooperation, contributed toward the successful actualization of the capacity for growth latent in various countries and regions in the Asia-Pacific region. We believe that the many accumulated achievements arising out of the activities of PBEC toward the concept of creating "Economic community in the Pacific region" had a direct bearing on the moves encouraging the creation of APEC. Ever since APEC's inauguration, PBEC has been actively making proposals about a variety of economic issues to APEC from the standpoint of a private-sector economic organization. Recently, we have seen a significant slowdown in the economy of the United States, raising concerns about the effect that this might have over the economies in the Asia-Pacific region. However, we should consider this as a period during which we will have to experience a number of trials: once we get through it, we will have a much stronger basis for growth. Indeed, there are strong hopes for the Asia-Pacific region in the 21st century to once again become the growth center for the world economy. Over the next three days, I hope that the noted participants from each country in the region whom we have invited, as well as all of you who have gathered at this year's meeting, will use the opportunity as people in business enterprises and corporations to widen your own networks, and to exchange candid opinions and consider mutual cooperative strategies over a variety of topics that surround our main theme, "Regional Vitality in the 21st century." On the occasion of this, the Tokyo General Meeting of PBEC, I would like to take this opportunity to express my debt of gratitude to Mr. Minoru Murofushi, Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the PBEC 2001 IGM, as well as all the members and corporate delegates on his Organizing Committee, as well as the PBEC Japan Committee members and corporations, the foreign enterprises in Japan, the corporate members of The Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Japan Keirin Association, and the foreign embassies in Japan for their invaluable support and cooperation. Finally, I would like to express my hope that this PBEC International General Meeting will provide an opportunity for the countries in Asia-Pacific region to make a dramatic new leap and that it will provide a meaningful and pathbreaking forum further promoting the strengthening of friendly neighbor relationships and business networks amongst the various countries and regions within the area. Thank you. |
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