All roads in Singapore leading to the Convention Center, are infested with the visible presence of the police carrying automatic weapons with their fingers on the trigger. As the media bus made its way to the convention center, the police presence was everywhere to be seen.
Local authorities were conscious of the fact that they had over 1,500 delegates, including Presidents and Prime Ministers from 21 Asia-Pacific countries. India Is not a member of APEC.
The Canadian Delegation is led by Prime Minister Stephen Harper and include Finance Minister Jim Flaherty, Foreign affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon, International Trade Minister Stockwell Day. Flaherty will not go to India but Day and Cannon would accompany Harper to India.
Under the theme 'Sustaining Growth, Connecting the Region'. APEC Singapore 2009 will build on the APEC's work todate in promoting economic growth, cooperation, trade and investment across the Asia-pacific region. In addition, given today's challenging global economic environment, APEC is also focused on overcoming the economic crisis and positioning member economies for a sustainable recovery in the post-crisis world.
The main areas for discussion including 'positioning for economic recovery exploring ways o foster growth that is both inclusive and sustainable in the post-crisis economic landscape; supporting multilateral trading system, upholding and strengthening the global multi-lateral trading system by revisiting protectionism and supporting the successful conclusion of the Doha Round of trade talks.
Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong spoke at length yesterday arguing in favor of creating a free trade zone amongst all 21 APEC countriesthat include besides the US, Canada, countries like Mexico, China , Australia, Korea, Malaysia, etc.
The most important task, he emphasized in his address, would be to the ultimate goal of a Free Trade Area of the Asia Pacific (FTAAP).'This is a vision. It will not happen for many years because of the many political and economic challenges that has to be overcome,' Lee said. 'But we can take steps towards this gradually year by year, and one promising way to do this is to push ahead with the Trans-Pacific Partnership. '
The Summit will conclude on Sunday with the joint declaration in which, from all indications, emphasis would be on global economic recovery through cooperation between nations, trade and investments.
After the summit, Canadian PM Harper and his ministers will board the Prime Minister's Airbus and will head to Mumbai, first stop on Harper's itinerary for this 3-day first official visit to India. He will go to Delhi and Amritsar before heading back to Ottawa.
