APEC Member Economies Reaffirm Commitment to Vision of a ‘Healthy Asia Pacific’ by Year 2020

(Clark Freeport, Angeles City) — Member economies of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) have reaffirmed their commitment to the vision of attaining a “Healthy Asia Pacific” by the Year 2020.

“This initiative emphasizes a holistic health in all policies, whole of government, and whole of society approach to the development of high-performing and sustainable health systems,” Acting Health Secretary Janette Loreto-Garin said during the APEC Health Working Group (HWG) meeting that was held at Oxford Hotel here on Tuesday.

“The global community has long recognized the contribution of improved health, particularly through prevention and control of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), in ensuring progress across the three pillars of economic growth, social equity, and environmental protection,” Garin added.

“We agree that mental disorders, another form of NCD, deserve the recognition in the APEC Ministerial and Economic Leaders’ Declaration. Noteworthy is the importance of integrating the efforts of the public and private sector for innovative and creative solutions to this growing global burden,” the cabinet official stressed.

She also cited emerging infectious diseases, such as MERS CoV and Ebola Virus, as well as antimicrobial resistance as continued threats to Asia-Pacific health.

“With renewed interest on health, we hope that our collective efforts help put a strong foothold of health in economic and trade discussions, which are usually prioritized in APEC,” Garin said.

The meeting of the Health Working Group is among the ongoing related technical meetings being held in Clark and Subic Freeports in line with the first Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM1).

“The discussions of the senior officials during the SOM1, they will take into account the results of these technical meetings in addition to recommendations from the APEC Business Advisory Council, which will have their first meeting this year from January 27 to 30 in Hong Kong, China,” the APEC said in a statement.

Marking the inaugural gathering of APEC senior officials for this year’s Philippine hosting, SOM1 will foster discussions on a range of issues relevant to the region, including the Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific, trade facilitation and implementation, environmental goods and services liberalization, and efforts toward development and against corruption.

The SOM1 will be held from February 6 to 7.

Having started as an informal dialogue group in 1989, the APEC has since become the premier forum for facilitating economic growth, cooperation, trade and investment in the Asia-Pacific region.

The APEC is composed of 21 member economies: Australia; Brunei Darussalam; Canada; Chile; People’s Republic of China; Hong Kong, China; Indonesia; Japan; Republic of Korea; Malaysia; Mexico; New Zealand; Papua New Guinea; Peru; Philippines; The Russian Federation; Singapore; Chinese Taipei; Thailand; United States of America; and Viet Nam.

This year’s meetings carry the theme, “Building Inclusive Economies, Building a Better World.” (cljd-PIA 3)