Asia-Pacific economies need to identify a new paradigm for post-crisis growth and Japan, as the chair of APEC this year, is required to set a new direction for the regional economic forum under the changing global circumstances, officials and experts said at a recent symposium in Tokyo.
Japan should also establish a clear policy on free trade agreements with its key trading partners, including the sensitive agriculture sector, so that it can lead — and not be left behind in — the regional efforts on free trade, they said.
The officials and experts were speaking at a symposium organized Sept. 27 by the Japan Business Federation (Nippon Keidanren) and the Keizai Koho Center under the theme, "Development of the Asia-Pacific Region and the Future of APEC." The event was held as Japan hosts a series of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum meetings, including ministerial conferences held since February and the annual APEC summit from Nov. 13 to 14 in Yokohama.