WELLINGTON, Dec. 11 (Xinhua) — New Zealand has confirmed its APEC host year priorities with a focus on responding to the economic impacts of COVID-19, as its first APEC 2021 virtual meeting was concluded from Wellington on Friday.
The Informal Senior Officials’ Meeting included a symposium, which brought together global thinkers on issues important to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum (APEC), an informal plenary meeting and an informal retreat. The meeting was attended by representatives of the 21 APEC member economies.
“At the Informal Senior Officials’ Meeting each year, the APEC economies discuss and prioritize all of the work that will take place throughout the following APEC year,” said Rebecca Sta Maria, Executive Director of the APEC Secretariat, in a statement.
“This week’s meeting has provided an opportunity for fresh discussions on the things that matter most to Asia-Pacific economies. New Zealand shared its host year priorities and there was broad agreement that much of the focus in the year ahead will be on COVID-19 and supporting the Asia-Pacific region’s economic response and recovery,” Sta Maria added.
“In the wake of the unprecedented health and economic crisis caused by COVID-19, it is clear that the immediate economic response to COVID-19 will dominate APEC discussions in 2021, but as we work to recover, we also need to focus on building back better,” said New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, who will chair APEC in 2021.
“There has never been a more important time for the region to join, work, and grow together – to share, rebuild, and recover APEC’s growth trajectory,” Ardern said, citing New Zealand’s theme for APEC 2021.
Economic activity in the APEC region is expected to contract in 2020, the first time in three decades.
Ardern urges APEC member economies to work together in the spirit of cooperation to address these challenges effectively. Enditem
2021亚太经合组织非正式高官会在新西兰惠灵顿举行
新华社惠灵顿12月11日电（记者郭磊 卢怀谦）2021亚太经合组织非正式高官会9日至11日以视频方式在新西兰惠灵顿举行，会议确定明年亚太经合组织将聚焦复苏。
会议确定，2021年亚太经合组织将围绕促进经济复苏的重点，从制定经济贸易复苏政策、确保经济复苏可持续性、强化创新和数字经济在复苏过程中的作用三方面展开行动。
新西兰总理杰辛达·阿德恩在会议中表示，新冠疫情背景下，各方共同参与和加强区域合作显得格外重要。她呼吁亚太经合组织成员共享、共建并共同面对未来挑战。
这是新西兰成为亚太经合组织轮值主席后首次主持高官会。新西兰政府此前决定，2021年亚太经合组织系列会议将以视频方式举行。
