The Russian Federation accords high priority to the activities of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, which it considers as the premier platform for facilitating economic growth, cooperation, trade and investment in the Asia-Pacific region.

APEC is the only inter governmental grouping in the world operating on the basis of non-binding commitments, open dialogue and equal respect for the views of all participants. Decisions made within APEC are reached by consensus and commitments are undertaken on a voluntary basis. These principles do not jeopardize any interests of Member Economies and play a catalytic role in achieving through interaction goals and objectives common to all APEC members.

APEC has 21 members, which account for approximately 40% of the world's population, approximately 56% of world GDP and about 48% of world trade. It also proudly represents the most economically dynamic region in the world having generated nearly 70% of global economic growth in its first 10 years.

APEC also works to create an environment for the safe and efficient movement of goods, services and people across borders in the region through policy alignment and economic and technical cooperation.

We realize that development of Russia can only be successful if we participate most actively in the regional integration process. Constructive involvement in these processes is our strategic choice and a most important task for the foreseeable future. Russia was guided by precisely these considerations when in 1998 it joined the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum. In the APR context today it is the most representative mechanism for consultations and collaborative discussions on key regional and international issues.

After the tragic events of September 11, 2001 in the United States the tasks of fighting terrorism and countering other threats firmly established themselves as priority topics on the APEC agenda. Russia regards APEC as an important instrument of strengthening the antiterrorist front in both regional and global dimensions. It is encouraging to see that all APEC member economies share this approach.

It is logical that today APEC pays great attention to uniting efforts to stop financial support of terrorist organizations. The APEC leaders noted the need for joint steps to weaken the "resource" base of terror prevention of illicit turnover of MANPADS and strengthening the non-proliferation regimes in the region. In its turn, an active cooperation in eliminating economic underdevelopment, curbing organized crime and fighting corruption gradually reduces the fertile ground for these negative phenomena.

The APEC efforts to develop the inter-cultural, inter-civilization and inter-faith dialogue in the region are to play a special role in this respect. Multiplicity of regional cultures and religions is a unique advantage of the region. Russia believes that the APEC is able to demonstrate a far greater interest in the issue of bringing closer the people that live in the diverse Pacific region.

Russia is interested in further interaction across the entire spectrum of our objectives, including guarantees of equal access of all economies to the advantages of globalization.  We are in favor of developing joint projects in preparedness for emergency situations. It is no less important to improve cooperation in establishing efficient early warning mechanisms for such catastrophes. Russia is prepared to make its own contribution to this activity. We have considerate high technology expertise relating to forecasting natural disasters, environmental monitoring, developing of systems for early warning and evacuation of people and mitigating consequences of natural disasters. We support active role of APEC in controlling the SARS, pandemic influenza and the avian flu.

We take a very serious and responsible attitude to the areas of our common activities, such as energy and transport. Because of its geographic position and resource potential – not only raw materials but also technological and intellectual one – Russia is prepared to play a key role in the formation of a new transport and energy architecture in the APR. We are actively involved in implementation of joint initiatives on Liberalization of Air Services in the APEC region, possibilities of using new transit transport corridors as well as development of cross-Polar air routes, establishment of Joint information system on all modes of transport and Joint information Centre on Maritime Safety and Security in the APEC region, etc. We strongly support the activities of the APEC Energy Working Group on energy effectiveness and saving issues. This year Russia will host the next EWG meeting. We initiated the Non-Ferrous Metals Dialogue with the aim of development favorable conditions for non-ferrous metals regional market and formation of a network of Non-Ferrous Metals industries.

Participation in the APEC is an undeniable and long-term priority of the foreign policy and foreign economic policy of Russia towards the APR. Our objective is to promote economic and social development of our country, above all the regions of Siberia and the Far East. Two main and interrelated tasks are obvious in this context. The first one is to apply in our country common standards and collective practical experience of the APEC consistent with our national interests, requirements and potential. The second one is to promote, through the APEC, Russian technologies, conceptual designs, methodologies, as well as specific products, technologies and equipment. All these can be used to attain program objectives of the APEC. Relevant potential is available in Russia.

For further details contact Mr. Alexander SUKHOV, Embassy's Counsellor, Official of the APEC Secretariat

<apec@russia.org.sg>