Busan APEC forum concludes amid upgrading Korea's status
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The 13th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting came to the grand finale of its eight-day gathering on Saturday (Nov. 19) with a two-day summit of leaders at Nurimaru APEC House in Busan.
The Republic of Korea as host of the regional body was rated as having etched its image of ‘advanced trading country' in the minds of foreign businesspeople through its role in the CEO Summit, APEC Business Advisory Council, and other business-related functions.
The 21 participants of the APEC Summit welcomed the progress made in the recent six-party talks on the North Korean nuclear issue. And as they recommended a faithful implementation of the talks' Sept. 19 joint statement, it is anticipated that the APEC statement will have a favorable impact on it.
In particular, the "anti-corruption declaration" by Asia-Pacific businesspeople and submission of the document to President Roh Moo-hyun, chairman of the APEC Summit, publicized the Korean government's will to combat corruption, while increasing the allure of Korea as a destination for investment from abroad. In fact, the Busan APEC meeting resulted in attracting $506 million in investment in Korea from 12 foreign companies.
The APEC event has also helped strengthen the image of Korea as an information technology (IT) powerhouse. "Paperless e-conference" was introduced to the Summit. Journalists at the International Media Center experienced PDA and DMB phones firsthand as they worked.
Meanwhile, the status of Busan as the host city has been dramatically enhanced through the issuing of the Busan Roadmap and the Busan Declaration, the impact of which is expected to positively affect the city's bid to host the summer Olympic Games in 2020 and attract the 121st General Assembly of the IOC and its 13th Olympic Congress in 2009.
The source of news : Korea.net November 20, 2005
