This decision supports the proposal presented by Chile, economy that motivated, organized and promoted this meeting and its continuity in time. Chile’s drive and leadership in this regard was commended. "It is the first time that a Meeting of Ministers Responsible for Mining takes place in APEC. A very favorable second aspect is the positive reaction to its realization at such an important mining region", noted Alfonso Dulanto, Chilean Mining Minister.

The meeting addressed the need to devise a work plan aimed at defining the main topics and priorities for member economies, the generation of concrete products and the preparation of next year’s meeting, which could be organized in principle by Korea or Mexico.

One of the topics addressed today was mining’s economic, social and environmental contribution, summarized in the concept of the activity’s sustainability. To this respect, Dulanto explained that "we hold similar views, in the sense that this issue is a special concern for the future, from the standpoint of the extractive industry and users, in terms of the disposal of products". He added that "there is a general opinion that most economies, and especially Chile, have made considerable advance in this regard, but there is a long road ahead".

Another challenge addressed at this meeting is the need to undertake joint work on the economies’ shared concerns, especially in trade facilitation and elimination of tariff and non-tariff barriers, commitments assumed by all member economies in the 1994 Bogor Declaration, and ratified in the recent Ministers Responsible for Trade Declaration carried out in Pucón on 4-5 June.

The group of Ministers also requested Chilean Mining Minister, Alfonso Dulanto, to send a message to the European Union together with the Antofagasta Declaration, and to be in charge of the main concerns on free trade for chemical and mineral products in this area.

Economies expressed interest in holding meetings and bilateral encounters, which resulted in busy agendas for most delegations. Chile held formal meetings with China, Japan, Korea, Chinese Taipei, Mexico and Peru, and informal meetings and conversations with Vietnam, Thailand, and Indonesia, on trade affairs.

With regard to the Chilean debate on royalty, Minister Dulanto said "the topic has not been addressed at this meeting. It was not requested by the Economies and does not pertain to the meeting".

Finally, Minister Dulanto commended government enterprises and public services for their economic and logistic support to this meeting's organization, such as CODELCO, ENAP, ENAMI, COCHILCO, SERNAGEOMIN, CCHEN and CIMM, and the Regional Government of Antofagasta. 

Source: www.apec2004.cl