Busan has been designated as the site of the 13th summit meeting for the Asian-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) in 2005, in which leaders from 21 nations are expected to participate. This APEC summit meeting will be the largest diplomatic event since the inauguration of Mr. Rohs participatory government.
The Selection Committee for the APEC 2005 Host City, whose chairman is former South Korean Prime Minister Lee Hong-gu, reached this decision during the fifth meeting at the Central Government Complexs Outbuilding in Seoul on Monday.
We voted on the host city between Busan and Jeju, and 13 members among 19 selection members, more than two-thirds of them, supported Busan. We came to that decision considering the successful opening and national development plan, Chairman Lee said
While 16 members participated in yesterdays meeting, 12 members voted for Busan and four members voted for Jeju. Two members did not take part in this meeting, and Chairman Lee did not cast a vote.
I will report to the committee preparing for the APEC 2005 whose chairman is Acting President and Prime Minister Goh Kun on Tuesday that Busan has been designated as the site of the 13th summit meeting for APEC 2005. I will propose to have Jeju host the trade ministerial conference which is the largest cabinet meeting, he said.
Ahead of it, three South Korean major cities, including Seoul, Busan and Jeju, had struggled to become the site of the APEC 2005 since they applied for it in December 31, 2003.
APEC, which began as the ministerial conference with 12 states in Canberra, Australia, in November 1989, now consists of 21 member states in the Asian-Pacific region including South Korea, the U.S., Japan, China, and Russia. These member nations account for around 60 percent of the global GDP and about 49.4 percent of the global trade.
APEC 2005 will be held from November 14 through November 21 in 2005. High official meetings, joint-ministerial meetings, and the summit meeting will be held from November 14-15, 17-18, 20-21 during that period respectively.