FTA agenda for APEC economic leaders

China is hosting the 22nd APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting. The theme of the meeting will be "shaping the future through Asia-Pacific partnership" and one of the three topics will be "advancing Asia-Pacific regional economic integration".

This topic is especially important, as this year marks the 20th anniversary of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation's Bogor Goals. There are only six years left to achieve these goals, but while all parties should remain committed to them, it is important to start thinking about APEC's agenda in the next 10 to 15 years, especially in regard to tailoring a new regional trade arrangement for the Asia-Pacific. Indeed, thinking about the post-Bogor Goals agenda will give impetus to achieving the Bogor Goals.

More importantly, APEC needs to champion the building of regional economic institutions. APEC should promote sound interactions between competitive mechanisms in an open, inclusive, cooperative, win-win, transparent and flexible manner.