The 18th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting, held under the theme of "Change and Action," came to a close in Yokohama, Japan on November 14.  President Lee Myung-bak and 21 other APEC leaders adopted a declaration entitled "The Yokohama Vision – Bogor and Beyond."

The President (fifth from right) attends a joint declaration session with other APEC leaders while Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan announces the "Yokohama Vision" on the final day of the APEC summit.

A major part of the APEC meeting was an evaluation of progress being made towards the Bogor Goals.  First developed in 1994, the goals asked developed countries to establish free and open trade and investment by 2010, with developing economies to follow suit by 2020.  The APEC leaders agreed that the participating developed economies have made significant progress towards meeting the goals, but there is still much left to be done.

APEC leaders also pledged to take concrete steps toward the realization of a Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP).

They welcomed the outcomes of the G20 Seoul Summit and will continue to take steps to rebalance and strengthen global demand, pursue sound fiscal management policies and enhance key sectors.  The President proposed strategic ties between the G20 and APEC, saying the two forums share the same goal of spurring global growth.

APEC leaders said that the FTAAP, which is a major instrument to further APEC''s regional economic integration agenda, should be pursued as a comprehensive free-trade agreement. They suggested developing and building on ongoing regional undertakings, such as ASEAN+3, ASEAN+6 and the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).

They also agreed to extend their commitment to refrain from raising new barriers to investment or trade. They further promised to advance the World Trade Organization''s Doha Development Agenda (DDA).

The President (right) and Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan shake hands following their bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the APEC summit in Yokohama on Nov. 14.

During the President’s talks with Prime Minister Kan, Japan agreed to return 1,205 volumes of books from the Joseon royal archives, including the Joseon Uigwe, which were removed from Korea during the Japanese colonial period.

The President (right) shakes hands with Chilean President Sebastian Piñera before talks in Yokohama, Japan on Nov. 13.

The President held summit talks on the sidelines with Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan and Chilean President Piñera Echenique. The President and Chilean President Piñera Echenique discussed the Korea-Chile Free Trade Agreement, energy cooperation and exchange of human resources.