This year’s APEC theme, ‘Open. Connect. Balance.’ is in line with the Putrajaya Vision 2040, in which APEC Economic Leaders envisioned the Asia-Pacific region to achieve strong, balanced, secure, sustainable, and inclusive growth. This illustrates APEC’s determination to recover better and stronger in the post-COVID-19 era.

His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam made the statement in a titah on Friday during the Retreat (Session 1) of the 2022 APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting (AELM), which was held at Queen Sirikit National Convention Center (QSNCC), Bangkok, Thailand.

His Majesty also stated that Brunei Darussalam supports Thailand’s leadership on implementing the Bangkok Goals on the Bio-Circular-Green (BCG) as an economic business model to meet APEC’s sustainability objectives.

In his titah, His Majesty reiterated that cooperation by providing an enabling ecosystem, appropriate market reforms and technology transfers within APEC, as well as joint research in other forums such as through the ASEAN Climate Change Centre to be located in Brunei Darussalam, will be important.

In ending the titah, His Majesty emphasised that the APEC Economic and Technical Cooperation (ECOTECH) must remain an important pillar in APEC to move forward on meeting the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals and moving towards net-zero emission by 2050.

His Majesty was greeted on arrival at QSNCC by Prime Minister of Thailand as Chairman of the 2022 AELM Prayut Chan-O-Cha. Accompanying His Majesty to the session was His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Mateen.

His Majesty then proceeded to attend the Retreat (Session 1) along with other APEC economic leaders, which carried the theme ‘Balanced, Inclusive and Sustainable Growth’.

The session began with welcoming remarks by the Prime Minister of Thailand.

During the Retreat (Session 1), His Majesty and other APEC leaders discussed issues on cooperation and exchanged views on regional and international issues of common concern, as well as on APEC’s external relations and its future direction.

The Retreat (Session 2) themed ‘Sustainable Trade and Investment’ is scheduled for today at the same venue.

-- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin