横浜ＡＰＥＣ 統合ビジョンの具体化着実に

専門用語：
Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum アジア太平洋経済協力会議（ＡＰＥＣ）
Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific(FTAAP) アジア太平洋自由貿易地域（ＦＴＡＡＰ）
Trans-Pacific Partnership（ＴＰＰ） 環太平洋経済連携協定（ＴＰＰ）
（スラチャイ記）

The Yomiuri Shimbun (Nov. 17, 2010)
Concrete steps needed to realize APEC vision
横浜ＡＰＥＣ　統合ビジョンの具体化着実に（11月16日付・読売社説）

Asia-Pacific nations have begun to move toward regional economic integration. High hurdles stand before them, but their attempt to expand a free trade area to foster economic growth is worthy of note.
　アジア太平洋の国々が地域経済統合に動き出した。ハードルは高いが、経済成長を促す自由貿易圏拡大の試みは注目に値しよう。

The recent summit meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in Yokohama, attended by leaders from 21 nations and territories including the United States and China, has closed after adopting a declaration called the "Yokohama Vision."
　米中など２１か国・地域が出席した横浜でのアジア太平洋経済協力会議（ＡＰＥＣ）首脳会議が、首脳宣言の「横浜ビジョン」を採択して閉幕した。

Compiled by Japan, which served as APEC chair for the first time in 15 years, the declaration contained the first use of the term open "community" in reference to APEC's future vision. It was a breakthrough for the forum, which started as a loosely bound framework, that its members agreed to pursue comprehensive economic cooperation.
　日本が１５年ぶりに議長となってまとめた首脳宣言は、ＡＰＥＣの将来像について、開かれた「共同体」と初めて表現した。緩やかな枠組みでスタートしたＡＰＥＣが包括的な経済連携を目指す方向で一致したのは画期的である。

APEC represents a center for world growth, as its member economies account for 50 percent of the world's gross domestic product and 40 percent of its population. The latest agreement is expected to enhance its presence on the global stage.
　ＡＰＥＣは、世界の国内総生産（ＧＤＰ）の５割、人口の４割を占める世界の成長センターだ。今回の合意を弾みに、存在感がさらに高まることが期待される。

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TPP key to free trade area

One of the key APEC initiatives stipulated in the summit declaration is the realization of a Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP).
　首脳宣言が共同体構想の柱に明記したのが、ＡＰＥＣ全体をカバーする「アジア太平洋自由貿易地域（ＦＴＡＡＰ）」の実現だ。

This framework is aimed at not only liberalizing trade and investment but also strengthening cooperation over a wider scope, such as the elimination of nontariff barriers, regulatory reform and smoother logistics.
　貿易や投資の自由化だけでなく、非関税障壁の撤廃、規制改革、物流の円滑化など幅広い分野の連携強化を目指す枠組みである。

The Trans-Pacific Partnership is widely seen as the most important step toward that goal. Nine nations, including the United States and Australia, already have started negotiations for a TPP agreement, and intend to reach a final pact in November next year.
　それに向けたステップとして、最も重視されるのが環太平洋経済連携協定（ＴＰＰ）といえる。米国、豪州などの９か国がすでに交渉中で、来年１１月の最終合意を目指している。

Prime Minister Naoto Kan participated in a TPP summit meeting as an observer and formally expressed this country's intention to start talks with countries involved in TPP negotiations. Agricultural groups and some others oppose trade liberalization, but we think Japan should decide to join the negotiations as soon as possible while taking measures to strengthen the competitiveness of its agriculture sector.
　菅首相はＴＰＰ首脳会合にオブザーバー参加し、協議入りを正式表明した。農業団体などは自由化に反対するが、日本は農業の競争力強化に取り組みながら、早期の交渉参加を決断すべきである。

China is quite cautious about the TPP led by the United States, which aims to expand its exports to the Asia region. This is because China has advocated the Association of Southeast Asian Nations plus Three--Japan, China and South Korea.
　アジア向けの輸出拡大を狙う米国が主導するＴＰＰに対し、中国の警戒感は強い。中国は東南アジア諸国連合（ＡＳＥＡＮ）に日中韓を加えた「ＡＳＥＡＮプラス３」を提唱してきたからだ。

There is expected to be a rough tug-of-war between the United States and China over the concrete steps to be taken toward a free trade area, with the two nations' currency strategies also affecting the issue.
　自由貿易圏の具体化を巡る米中の主導権争いは、両国の通貨戦略も絡んで波乱含みといえる。

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'Heisei opening' needed

There are significant gaps among different APEC economies, and some observers are uncertain whether the FTAAP can be realized.
　ＡＰＥＣ域内の経済格差は大きく、ＦＴＡＡＰが実現できるかどうか、不透明との見方もある。

Given this situation, Japan bears grave responsibilities as APEC chair. It must actively promote a so-called Heisei era opening of the nation and exercise leadership in implementing steps to liberalize trade.
　それだけに、議長国の日本の責任は重い。「平成の開国」を積極的に推進し、貿易自由化をリードしなければならない。

It is of great significance that APEC hammered out a growth strategy that includes measures to rectify imbalances and address environmental problems. Economic reinvigoration of this region as a whole is indispensable for a full-fledged recovery of the world economy.
　ＡＰＥＣが今回、不均衡是正や環境対策などの成長戦略をまとめた意義も大きい。世界景気の本格回復には、この地域全体の経済活性化が必須だからだ。

APEC members should also be hailed for their pledge in the declaration to resist protectionism.
　保護貿易主義の阻止を打ち出した点も評価できる。

The bold Yokohama Vision must not end up as just pie in the sky.
　大胆な横浜ビジョンを絵に描いた餅に終わらせてはなるまい。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 16, 2010)
（2010年11月16日01時53分 読売新聞）