How quickly time passes! This is already my fifth attendance at the UNGA. As always, the traffic is a mess with many streets cordoned off in the first two days.
But every year is different with its own exigencies. Two years ago, it was the Thai coup. Last year, the ASEAN Foreign Ministers had to meet in emergency session over the shooting of monks on the streets of Yangon.
Monday was a day devoted to Africa. With China now moving into the continent in a big way, the other major powers have been forced to give more attention. Singapore enjoys considerable goodwill among African countries.
The GA opened on Tuesday with speeches given by the President of the General Assembly, Secretary Gen Ban Ki-moon, President George Bush, President Lula of Brazil and President Sarkozy of France. It was President Bush's swan song. He talked about freedom and criticized Russia for its invasion of Georgia. In the evening, he and President Talabani of Iraq hosted a meeting to thank countries which contributed ot Iraq's security including Singapore.
I had a series of bilateral meetings in the last two days and will have many more in the coming days. On Monday, I was delighted to represent Minister Lim Hng Kiang for the launch of Transpacific Strategic Partnership negotiations with ministers from NZ, Brunei, Chile and the US. The participation of the US is highly significant and will create new dynamics in the Asia-Pacific. Both Australia and Peru are showing interest. Vietnam is studying the proposal carefully. Our objective is to catalyse an APEC-wide free trade agreement. The 21 economies of APEC account for almost 60% of global GDP and half of global trade. With the Doha Round floundering, the Asia Pacific as the arrowhead of the global trading system has to take the lead.
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