APEC meeting ends with adoption of Golden Gate Declaration

San Francisco, Nov 18: The 30th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders’ Meeting concluded in San Francisco with the adoption of Golden Gate Declaration on creating a resilient and sustainable future for all.
“We must harness technological and economic progress to continue to unleash the enormous potential and tremendous dynamism across our region, spur economic growth, as well as to address all environmental challenges, including climate change,” the declaration says. The declaration was adopted late Friday night after the two-day meeting, during which the leaders focused on the subjects of sustainability, climate, just energy transition, interconnectedness and building inclusive and resilient economies, reports Xinhua news agency.
In the document, the leaders have reaffirmed their determination to deliver a free, open, fair, non-discriminatory, transparent, inclusive, and predictable trade and investment environment.
They also reaffirm the importance of the rules-based multilateral trading system, with the World Trade Organization at its core, which continues to catalyze APEC region’s extraordinary growth. APEC economies are committed to enhancing their capacity building and technical cooperation efforts in support of economies’ readiness to participate in high quality and comprehensive regional undertakings, according to the declaration. “We will continue to work to ensure a level playing field to foster a favourable trade and investment environment,” the declaration says.
The world continues to confront profound challenges posed by the impacts of climate change.
The leaders recognise that more intensive efforts are needed for economies to accelerate their clean, sustainable, just, affordable, and inclusive energy transitions through various pathways, consistent with global net-zero greenhouse gas emissions or carbon neutrality by or around mid-century, while taking into account the latest scientific developments and different domestic circumstances.
APEC economies vow to accelerate the transition towards low and zero emissions vehicles; sustainable aviation fuels; and low and zero emission maritime shipping and port decarbonization, reads the document. The leaders also reaffirm their commitment to create an enabling, inclusive, open, fair and non-discriminatory digital ecosystem for business and consumers. (IANS)