APEC Executive Director on Official Visit to Peru - Preparations for APEC Peru 2008

Preparations for APEC Peru 2008 moved a step closer this week with an official visit to Lima by the Executive Director of the APEC Secretariat that is based in Singapore.

Ambassador Tran Trong Toan, who is a senior diplomat from Viet Nam, will meet with President Alejandro Toledo and Foreign Affairs Minister, Ambassador Oscar Maúrtua, during his visit on July 17-18. Ambassador Toan will also meet with senior government officials and deliver a speech on APEC at the University of Lima.

Ambassador Toan said, his visit to Peru will provide an opportunity to share information on the challenges and rewards that come with hosting the APEC process.

"In 2008 the eyes of the world will be on Peru as Leaders, Ministers and other delegates from APEC Member Economies meet for a series of the most important meetings in the annual global political calendar," Ambassador Toan said from Singapore prior to his departure.

"I very much look forward to visiting Peru this week when I will have great honour to call on the President, Foreign Minister and other dignitaries.

"Since joining APEC in 1998, Peru has made significant contributions to the progress of APEC, which accounts for 57% of world GDP and around 50% of the world's trade. APEC includes several of the world's largest and most dynamic economies. With the hosting of the APEC year in 2008, Peru will play a vital role in enhancing the linkage among those economies from the two sides of the Pacific".

"Hosting the APEC process is a great honour and high responsibility that requires long-term and meticulous planning. As host of the APEC process in 2008, Peru has already started preparations for this important event with the PERU APEC 2008 National Executive Committee established as early as in November 2004. I firmly believe that under the able leadership of the Government of Peru, APEC year 2008 will be crowned with great success."

Ambassador Toan's speech at the University of Lima, that has been organized by the Network of Peruvian Studies in the Asia-Pacific, is entitled "APEC Vietnam 2006 - A Response to a Changing World."
Other meetings on the Executive Director's agenda include a meeting with Ambassador Allan Wagner, Secretary General of the Andean Community and a meeting with Peru's members of the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC). Ambassador Toan will also inaugurate a seminar on APEC Projects for Government officials.

Ambassador Toan is the Executive Director of the APEC Secretariat during the APEC 2006 Viet Nam year. A Peruvian diplomat will be appointed Deputy Director of the APEC Secretariat based in Singapore during the 2007 Australia APEC year. The Peruvian Ambassador will then be appointed as Executive Director for the 2008 Peru APEC year.

APEC was formed in 1989 to promote economic cooperation and growth in the Asia-Pacific region. APEC focuses on trade and investment liberalization and facilitation as well as economic and technical cooperation. In the recent years, the scope of cooperation has been further expanded to include areas such as human security, anti-corruption, tourism and cultural exchange. APEC also undertakes numerous capacity building programs each year intended to improve the skills of people in developing areas and help bridge the development gap in the APEC Region.

Peru and Viet Nam became Member Economies of APEC at the same time in 1998.