APR News

The second Structural Reform Ministerial meeting was held on September 7-8, 2015 in Cebu, Philippines. The meeting concluded with a statement`s adoption which includes actions to promote economic growth through structural reform, e.g. through international regulatory cooperation, as well as member economies` self-assessment of barriers to competition.
The Ministers also approved second APEC Ease of Doing Business Action Plan for 2016-2018 aimed at further improving business environment in the region setting an APEC-wide target of 10 percent improvement by 2018.
Additionally, the specific objectives of the Action Plan include:
• Build upon existing APEC EoDB efforts and support the “implementation” of EoDB reforms.
• Identify challenges in the implementation of EoDB reforms and address them by sharing best practices and experiences.
• Carry out additional tailored capacity building activities that strengthen the competencies of APEC member economies to implement EoDB reforms
• Identify possible areas of collaboration with other international organizations, including the World Bank, UNCITRAL, OECD, the International Competition Network, the World Economic Forum, and the Hague Conference, among others to implement capacity building activities.
Press-release at the official APEC web-site

The priority of these videos will be to highlight how APEC’s work affects people, businesses and communities in the Asia-Pacific, enabling trade and technologies to be exchanged.
SUBMISSION GUIDELINES:
1. Video submissions should not be longer than 3 minutes.
2. Please submit your videos as Youtube URL
3. Creative titles are welcome
4. The submitted video must not contain material that violates or infringes on another’s rights, including publicity and intellectual property rights. Please read our terms and conditions below.
5. A participant is allowed maximum of two video submissions.
IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER:
Submission opens: 28 August 2015
Submission closes: 17 October 2015, 11:59PM
Top three winning videos will be announced at the Concluding Senior Officials Meeting in Manila (Philippines) on November 14, 2015. Results will also be published on the APEC website.
JUDGING CRITERIA:
Each video will be evaluated based on the following criteria:
a) Interpretation and message of the photo based on APEC 2015 priorities (Theme: “Building Inclusive Economies, Building a Better World: how have technology and innovation has changed your life?)
b) Over-all composition and quality
c) Creativity
WINNERS' PRIZES
1st prize: SGD3000
2nd prize: SGD2000
3rd prize: SGD1000
The competition is open to amateurs and professionals.
Participants must be citizens or permanent residents of the APEC Member Economies (Australia; Brunei Darussalam; Canada; Chile; People’s Republic of China; Hong Kong, China; Indonesia; Japan; Republic of Korea; Malaysia; Mexico; New Zealand; Papua New Guinea; Peru; the Philippines; Russia; Singapore; Chinese Taipei; Thailand; United States; Viet Nam)
APEC Video Contest 2015 web-page
Press-release at the official APEC web-site

During his official visit to Changchun (China) Alexander Tsybulskiy, Deputy Minister of Economic Development of Russia inaugurated the first contacts exchange between Russian and Chinese entrepreneurs.
Russian delegation to the contacts exchange includes representatives of more than 70 companies from 8 Russian regions, representing more than 25 various manufacturing, agricultural and services industries. From the Chinese side more than 100 business representatives participate.
Following up the contacts exchange the Ministry of Economic Development of Russia and Ministry of Commerce of China plan to support the implementation of the reached agreements through the permanent working group on inter-regional and cross-border cooperation and permanent working group on special economic zones.
Press-release at the official web-site of the Ministry of Economic Development of Russia (in Russian)

Bank Indonesia and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) organize a high-level regional conference in Jakarta “Future of Asia’s Finance: Financing for Development 2015” on September 1, 2015. The participants of the event will discuss new financing modalities for the region’s dynamic emerging market economies.
IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde will open the conference. During her visit to Indonesia Ms. Lagarde will meet with President Joko Widodo, Vice President Jusuf Kalla, and senior Indonesian officials.
Live webcast of the panel sessions of the event will be provided at the conference web-page of the IMF web-site.
Programme and further information on the conference at the IMF official web-site
Press-release on Christine Lagarde`s visit to Indonesia at the IMF official web-site

The first meeting of cross sectoral working group on cooperation in coordinating development of the Eurasian Economic Union and the Silk Road Economic Belt was organized in Beijing on August 25, 2015.
The discussion of the meeting focused on bilateral work on implementation of joint declaration signed by the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin and President of the People’s Republic of China Xi Jinping in Moscow on May 8, 2015.
Press-release at the official web-site of Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (in Russian)

During Russian President Vladimir Putin`s visit to China on September 3-5, 2015 current international and regional issues will be discussed, in particular opportunities for deepening cooperation within the UN, G20, APEC and other international organisations, and coordinating the Eurasian Economic Union’s development with that of the Silk Road Economic Belt project.
Information at the official web-site of the President of the Russian Federation

APEC expert and senior officials’ meetings livestreaming is available at the official APEC web-site from August 26 till September 8, 2015.
The livestreamings’ schedule is presented below:

26 August - Anti-Corruption and Transparency (ACT) – APEC Pathfinder Dialogue II on "Combatting Corruption and Illicit Trade "
27 August - Investments Experts Group (IEG) Public Private Dialogue (PPD) on Inclusive Business
27 August - Health Policy Dialogue: Healthy Asia Pacific 2020 amidst Disasters and Outbreaks: Lessons Learned and Promising Practices
28 August - Dialogue with the OECD on services, trade and connectivity
29 August - Sub‐Committee on Standards and Conformance (SCSC) Meeting
30 August - High Level Meeting (HLM) on Health and the Economy
5 September - Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM)
5 September - Post-SOM 3 Press Briefing: Usec. Laura del Rosario
7 September - Structural Reform Ministerial Meeting (SRMM)
8 September - SRMM Joint Ministerial Press Briefing
Links to livestreaming at the official APEC web-site

Russian-Malaysian Business Forum in the framework of the Russian business mission to the ASEAN countries (Malaysia and Brunei) was organized on the sidelines of Russian – ASEAN Ministers` of economy consultations in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on August 25, 2015. Minister of Economic Development of the Russia Alexey Ulyukaev gave an inaugural address at the Forum.
Alexey Ulyukaev emphasized that “Russian companies expressed an increasing interest in deepening cooperation with the partners in ASEAN countries”, Russian regions are interested in attracting investments and setting close contacts with the regions of ASEAN countries. According to Alexey Ulyukaev, ASEAN is a priority region for Russia.
To date ASEAN Ministers of economy have approved 57 investment projects proposed by the Russian companies and business associations to being implemented in Russia and ASEAN countries. The projects encompass such spheres as: energy and engineering, information and telecommunication technologies, innovation, transport and logistics, health, and agriculture. Alexey Ulyukaev stressed that one of the most important objectives was to find partners for joint implementation of these projects. This is planned to be accomplished with engagement of Russia – ASEAN Business Council, Russian trade representations in ASEAN countries as well as embassies of Association`s countries in Russia. The high-level bilateral working groups with particular ASEAN countries are also being established.
The roundtables on energy, transport, building industry, infrastructure and food security were also organized at the Forum. The Forum provided a convenient platform for bilateral meetings between potential partners.
Approximately 100 representatives of leading companies and business associations of the region attended the event.
Press-release at the official web-site of the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation (in Russian)

The Third EAS Economic Ministers’ Meeting was held on August 24, 2015 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
The participants of the meeting discussed the regional development issues, trade and investment relations. They noted that the combined GDP of the EAS participating countries stood at USD 42.0 trillion in 2014, an increase from USD 40.5 trillion in 2013.
The Ministers noted that ASEAN's total trade with the non‐ASEAN EAS countries grew by 1.1 per cent year-on-year to USD 1.1 trillion in 2014.
Press-release at the official ASEAN web-site
Full text of the Joint Statement

The 47th ASEAN Economic Ministers’ (AEM) Meeting was held on August 22, 2015 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
The Ministers exchanged views on the recent global developments and the impact on the region. They highlighted that ASEAN’s economy has remained relatively resilient in the midst of global uncertainties, foreign exchange volatilities and the subdued post-global financial crisis recovery.
The participants of the meeting discussed trade and investment, SMEs, public-private sector engagement, external economic relations as well as AEC Vision 2025. The Ministers endorsed in principle the AEC Blueprint 2025, which is a document that charts the agenda for ASEAN economic integration from 2016 to 2025. The AEC Blueprint 2025 will be launched alongside the 2025 Blueprints of the other two ASEAN Communities at the 27th ASEAN Summit in November, 2015.
The meeting concluded with the Joint Statement adoption.
Press-release at the official ASEAN web-site