ワクチン分配で協力　貿易自由化へ新目標―３年ぶり宣言採択・ＡＰＥＣ首脳会議

　日本と米国、中国など２１カ国・地域が参加するアジア太平洋経済協力会議（ＡＰＥＣ）首脳会議が２０日夜（日本時間）、テレビ会議形式で開かれた。３年ぶりに首脳宣言を採択し、新型コロナウイルスの感染拡大を「最も困難な保健および経済上の危機の一つ」と表明。ワクチン製造や分配で協力することを確認した。今後２０年間を展望する貿易・投資自由化の新目標も打ち出した。
　トランプ米大統領や中国の習近平国家主席のほか、日本からは菅義偉首相が参加した。菅首相は世界で保護主義的な動きが強まる中、感染収束後の世界経済回復に向け、「自由で公正な国際経済ルール作りや多角的自由貿易体制の維持、強化が必要だ」と強調。その上で、アジア太平洋自由貿易圏の実現に向け、環太平洋連携協定（ＴＰＰ）の拡大や地域的な包括的経済連携（ＲＣＥＰ）の早期発効を目指すと訴えた。（2020/11/21-01:01）

APEC leaders agreed Friday to cooperate over the development and distribution of vaccines for the novel coronavirus while hammering out trade and investment liberalization goals for the next 20 years to succeed the so-called Bogor goals, which were drawn up in 1994.
   In a joint declaration adopted at their online meeting, the leaders from the 21 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum member economies said that COVID-19 is "one of the most challenging health and economic crises of our times," adding that they "stand united" to enable the Asia-Pacific region to successfully recover from the pandemic and its economic impacts and are "committed" to protecting people's lives and safeguarding their health.
   They reaffirmed the need to "cooperate constructively" on COVID-19, including the research and development, production, manufacturing and distribution of diagnostic tests, essential medical products and services, therapeutics and vaccines.
   It was the first time in three years for the APEC forum to produce a joint declaration by leaders. Participants in the videoconference included Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
   Suga said that especially at a time when protectionist moves are increasing on the globe, it is important to establish free and fair global economic rules, and maintain and strengthen the multilateral free trade system in order to bring the world economy back to the recovery path after the end of the coronavirus crisis.