Speaking at the opening ceremony, Chairman of the SOM APEC2020 Hairil Yahri Yaacob said the event, themed “Optimising Human Potential Towards a Future of SharedProsperity”, aims to clarify Malaysia’s priorities during APEC Year 2020.
He added that Malaysia looks towards an APEC that will takethe lead in dealing with existing problems via analysing negative factors intrade and investment as well as promoting creativity and innovation.
After 30 yearsof Bogor Goals’ direction for free and open trade and investment in the region,the region’s economy grew from 23.5 billion USD in 1990 to 66.2 billion USD in2018, an average of 3.7 percent per year, he said.
APEC economies,he said, had begun to realise that the wealth created by trade and investmentwithin the region caused a wider disparity, leaving a large segment of thesociety behind.
Therefore, oneof the goals that Malaysia is looking towards is sharing prosperity, puttingpeople at its core and pursuing inclusive sustainable growth, he said.
In order toboost comprehensive development among member economies, he said Malaysia will raiseinitiatives, with a focus on women and youths, start-ups, solutions topopulation aging by tapping digital technologies and economy.
According tohim, Malaysia will also seek to optimise natural resources management, thusmitigating harmful impacts on the environment via innovation.
During thefour-day meeting, participants will discuss contents given by the host country,including agenda items for APEC 2020./.