PBEC: International Secretariat: News: Geneva

PACIFIC BASIN ECONOMIC COUNCIL
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PBEC Secretary General Robert Lees with WTO Director General Michael Moore in Geneva, Switzerland.

A round-table meeting on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), co organized by the UNDP and the DPRK Foreign Ministry.

Lees with DPRK Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Choe Su Hon. The pair discussed the recent South-North leaders summit in Pyongyang.

PBEC Secretary General Robert Lees recently traveled to Geneva, Switzerland, where he met with WTO Director General Michael Moore and participated in a United Nations Development Programme roundtable on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
Lees met with Director General Moore and his senior staff, discussing many of PBEC's cornerstone issues and policy statements. The importance of transparency, particularly in government procurement, was one of many areas in which Moore responded enthusiastically to PBEC's work, and reaffirmed the WTO's commitment to like goals.
Other topics explored during the meeting included biotechnology (the report from the recent biotechnology conference in Honolulu was presented), electronic commerce, China and Chinese Taipei membership in the WTO, and - given the recent setback in Seattle - the next important steps for the WTO.
"I can report to our members and our leaders that PBEC is playing a vital role in the WTO process, and PBEC's views and policy recommendations are weighed seriously in Geneva," Lees said upon returning to the International Secretariat in Honolulu. "This is a testament to the tireless efforts of our Working Committees made up of senior representatives of our member companies and to our Member Committees that support their work."
Lees invited Moore to attend PBEC's upcoming IGM in Tokyo, to which Moore responded positively.
"Our discussions were friendly, open, and candid, and served to even further strengthen the strong bonds and relationship between PBEC and the WTO, something which DG Moore strongly encourages and supports," Lees said.
On the heels of his meetings with Director General Moore, Lees then participated in a senior level round table meeting on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).
The meeting was co-organized by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the DPRK Foreign Ministry, and convened at the UN's Palace of Nations in Geneva.
There, Lees shared comments with Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Choe Su Hon about the recent South-North leaders summit that took place in Pyongyang. He assured the Vice Minister that as more progress is made PBEC and the private sector will be there to contribute to the development of the DPRK economy.
For an in-depth review of Secretary General Lees' discussion with WTO Director General Michael Moore, see the latest edition of the Pacific Journal newsletter.