Australia turns out for ABAC: Australia's top political and business leaders turned out in force to welcome members of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation's Business Advisory Council last month - APEC - ABAC - APEC/ABAC - Brief Article

Business Asia, June, 2002

The ABAC members were in Sydney from 12 to 15 May for its second meeting for 2002. Australia highlighted the importance of the visit with numerous functions and events to welcome the visiting ABAC delegates.

Topping the list was a special cocktail reception held by Australian Prime Minister John Howard in Sydney on 12 May. Australian ABAC delegate and Business Asia publisher Peter Charlton hosted another cocktail reception on 13 May, in conjuction with ABAC members David Murray and Michael Crouch. Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer was the special guest at the 13 May event. NSW Premier Bob Carr hosted an event on the night of 14 May, while the visiting ABAC delegates were treated to a special barbecue breakfast on Bondi Beach on 14 May.

BUSINESS NEEDS TO PUSH TRADE: DOWNER

Australian Foreign Minister has urged the business community to keep pushing APEC governments on trade liberalisation.

Downer, in welcoming ABAC delegates to a special cocktail reception hosted by Australian ABAC member and First Charlton Communications chairman Peter Charlton, reiterated the importance of APEC and called for greater business involvement on the trade front.

"APEC is one of those institutions that has been very important over the past few years in driving the agenda for economic reform," Downer said.

"The important thing, particularly for the business community, is to continue to drive governments towards economic liberalisation--be it domestic or international.

"APEC was structured after a few years with a vision--the Bogor vision. A vision for non discriminatory trade by 2010 and 2020. I think that vision remains as relevant today as it was a few years ago. But we have to keep driving towards that.

"Never has there been an example of an economy anywhere in the world which was been open and liberal which has not been successful. There is no greater challenge for government ministers like myself than trying to explain to a reluctant public that trade and economic liberalisation is the path to prosperity. It is an incredibly difficult argument to make, but it is an important argument to make.

"The challenge for you is to drive governments to continue with the process of reform, whatever the difficulties may be."