APEC Summit in Bangkok Revives Critics' Question: What's the Point?

[papau]

http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGAD9ZJ92MD.html

Oct 21, 2003
APEC Summit in Bangkok Revives Critics' Question: What's the Point?
By Dirk Beveridge Associated Press Writer

BANGKOK, Thailand (AP) - Royal pomp and high security gave an Asian-Pacific economic summit a taste of Thai tradition and a reminder of modern terror threats, but critics said all the talk from Pacific Rim leaders - as expected - went nowhere.

Presidents and prime ministers from the United States, China, Japan and elsewhere said Tuesday the World Trade Organization must restart stalled talks. Analysts called that one a no-brainer, given the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum's official goal of free trade and investment. <snip>

As for the APEC plan to establish a free trade and investment zone by 2020, leaders said they are on course. But they came up with nothing new even as some forged ahead with bilateral trade deals.<snip>

"Nothing is impossible," said Song Seng Wun, a regional economist at GK Goh Research Pte. Ltd. in Singapore. "But at this point, looking at the disarray and looking at the gap between the wealthy nations and the poorer nations in APEC, it does make it more difficult. It's unlikely we will ever get there." <snip>