YANQI LAKE, CHINA: His Majesty the Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam yesterday consented to attend the First Retreat Session of the 22nd APEC Economics Leaders’ Meeting (AELM 2014) the Tree-Planting Ceremony and the Working Lunch held at the International Convention Center (ICC) Yanqi Lake, Brudirect reported.
His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam was greeted upon arrival at the Hong Yan Hall, ICC, Yanqi Lake by the President of the People’s Republic of China, His Excellency Xi Jinping.
This was followed by the First AELM Retreat session which began with a welcoming remark by His Excellency the President of the People’s Republic of China.The First AELM Retreat session, that took place at the Ji Xian Hall, ICC, Yanqi Lake, focused on “Regional Economic Integration”.
During the session, APEC Economic Leaders took note of the many efforts APEC has achieved towards reaching its goals of free and open trade and investment. This is in line with APEC’s work toward the Bogor Goals.
The meeting also discussed issues related to the Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP) whereby APEC has made significant progress through the leveraging of existing agreements and the establishment of model measures.
APEC Economic Leaders also deliberated on the outcomes of the 9th World Trade Organisation (WTO) Ministerial Conference in Bali, Republic of Indonesia.
After the First AELM Retreat Session, His Majesty consented for a group photo session with His Excellency the President of the People’s Republic of China as well as other APEC Economic Leaders.
The Monarch then consented to join other APEC Leaders for a Tree-Planting Ceremony in the Summer Garden to commemorate the meeting. His Majesty then consented to proceed on to a Working Lunch which was held at the Yanqi Lake Guesthouse.
At the Working Lunch, APEC Economic Leaders discussed the APEC Connectivity Blueprint 2015-2025. Discussions centred on economies to strengthen physical, institutional and people-to-people connectivity by taking agreed actions and meeting agreed targets by 2025.
In addition, China proposed the establishment of an APEC Higher Education Research Center to promote higher education cooperation and enhance connectivity in education among APEC economies.
Meanwhile, the United States has launched the APEC Scholarship Initiative to promote the creation of privately and publicly funded APEC-branded scholarship, training and internship opportunities to benefit students and professionals especially youth and women from developing APEC economies.
The scholarships will support APEC’s target of one million intra-APEC university-level students per year by 2020.
APEC Economic Leaders also reviewed the progress of the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity 2011-2015.
Accompanying His Majesty were the Minister of Finance II at the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Laila Setia Dato Seri Setia Awg Hj Abd Rahman Hj Ibrahim and the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade II, Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Pekerma Dewa Dato Seri Setia Lim Jock Seng.