for the region
p. 48 · Read in the full issue
A new vision for the region
THE Pacific leaders who met at the Forum meeting in Madang the past month have promoted a vision for enhancing regional co operation for the next 25 years. That vision is: • Co-operation on the basis of equality, friendship and mutual respect with due regard for what each can afford in efforts to maintain security, improve living standards and ensure sustain able development throughout the region; • Creating opportunities for co-operation with other govern
ments, non-governmental organisations and international organi
sations, including other bodies in the Asia-Pacific; • Developing resources including fisheries, forestry, miner als, water and land with proper regard for conservation; • Unity in securing shared interests which contributes to the national, regional and global good; • Material progress matched by improvement in the quality of people’s lives, including human development, equality between women and men, and the protection of children; • Overcoming the vulnerability to the effects of natural disas ters, environmental damage and the other threats; • The respect and promotion of indigenous and other values, traditions and customs of the region through cultural, sporting and other exchanges; • Have self-determination in the remaining dependent territo ries, and the end of unwelcome activities by external powers, including nuclear testing; • Promotion of international economic co-operation through trade, investment and other exchanges to strengthen subsistence and commercial agriculture, industrial development competition, leading to growth with equity, broad-based participation and capacity-building for self-reliance; • Openness, accountability and other principles of good govern ment are embodied in the practices, policies and plans of regional institutions; and • National sub-regional and regional efforts to achieve the Forum’s vision.