PACIFIC BASIN ECONOMIC COUNCIL
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What people are saying about PBEC... "PBEC has played a valuable role over the years by building consensus in the Asia Pacific business community for trade and investment liberalization." —Colin Powell, U.S. Secretary of State (2001) "PBEC's traditional leadership in advancing trade and investment in Asia is an invaluable asset to this Administration..." —Robert Zoellick, U.S. Trade Representative (2001) "Compared with 34 years ago, the economies of the Asia-Pacific region have made amazing progress. This is beyond doubt due to the efforts of local business leaders to pool their knowledge and experience in order to solve the many problems they encountered. For this reason also, the role of the PBEC is destined to become ever more important in the economic life of the region." —His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince of Japan (2001) "The human network that PBEC has developed so far in the business world will form the foundation for future prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region." —Yoshiro Mori, Prime Minister of Japan (2001) The degree to which PBEC has spearheaded economic development in the Asia-Pacific region is impressive. As a respected private sector organization, the PBEC has laid the foundation for the "Pacific Basin Era" by playing a leading role in strengthening economic cooperation and promoting investment in the region. In particular, I would like to commend PBEC members on your contribution towards Asia's recovery from the economic crisis of 1997. No doubt the PBEC's hard work will continue to contribute to co-prosperity in the 21st Century as the private sector becomes an increasingly significant source of economic development. —Dr. Jin Nyum, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance and Economy, Republic of Korea (2001) "PBEC's work is very important, particularly in strengthening links between the business community and governments." —Mike Moore, Director-General, World Trade Organization (1999) "PBEC led the way in the historic drive toward market liberalization. And it can take a fair share of the credit for the economic transformation that has made our region the fastest-growing and most exciting in the world today. In many ways, APEC represents the culmination of the vision embraced by PBEC 30 years ago." —H.E. Fidel Ramos, President of the Republic of the Philippines (1997) "For the Pacific Basin Economic Council, the title of persevering pioneer for Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation is especially apt. It ventured into the work of fostering regional economic cooperation at a time when it was the last thing on the minds of the region's governments� With 30 years of experience in bringing business and governments together, you of this council have a leading role to play in shaping our common future�" —H.E. Fidel Ramos, President of the Republic of the Philippines (1997) "PBEC led the way in the historic drive toward market liberalization. And it can take a fair share of the credit for the economic transformation that has made our region the fastest-growing and most exciting in the world today. " —H.E. Fidel Ramos, President of the Republic of the Philippines (1997) "The famous philosopher of ancient China, Confucius, said that one becomes mature at 30. With the efforts made by the member economies in the last 30 years, PBEC has become an influential business organization, and has made contributions to the economic development and social progress in the region." —Li Lanqing, Vice Premier of the State Council, People's Republic of China (1997) "For nearly three decades the Pacific Basin Economic Council has stood on the cutting edge of trade and investment opportunity." —The Honorable William Clinton, President of the United States of America (1996) "The Pacific Basin Economic Council is in the best position to advise government about what is on the minds of the region's business leaders regarding trade, investment, and other important business issues." —H.E. Datuk Seri Dr. Mahathir Bin Mohamad, Prime Minister of Malaysia (1996) "PBEC is a business voice for the region. I'm tempted to say the business voice for the region." —James B. Bolger, Prime Minister of New Zealand (1995)