APEC visa (fwd)

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APEC-BUSINESS TRAVEL CARD                                            
         
APEC TO CONSIDER INTRODUCTION OF VISA WAIVER FOR BUSINESSMEN
   SEOUL, OCT. 16 (YONHAP) -- SEVERAL MEMBER COUNTRIES OF THE ASIA
PACIFIC ECONOMIC COOPERATION (APEC) ARE SEEKING TO INTRODUCE A VISA
EXEMPTION SYSTEM FOR BUSINESSMEN IN A PRELUDE TO DEVELOPING THEIR
ORGANIZATION INTO A KIND OF COMMUNITY FROM THE CURRENT FORUM
DEALING WITH TRADE AND INVESTMENT LIBERALIZATION, A FOREIGN
MINISTRY OFFICIAL SAID WEDNESDAY.
   "FIVE OF THE APEC MEMBERS INCLUDING SOUTH KOREA, AUSTRALIA,
SINGAPORE, THE PHILIPPINES AND THAILAND WILL PROCEED WITH THE PLAN
TO INTRODUCE THE APEC BUSINESS TRAVEL CARD DURING THE APEC SENIOR
OFFICIALS' MEETING SLATED FOR FRIDAY IN MANILA," DEPUTY FOREIGN
MINISTER FOR POLICY PLANNING CHO WON-IL SAID.
   CHO WILL HEAD A SOUTH KOREAN DELEGATION TO THE APEC SOM WHICH
CONSISTS OF OFFICIALS FROM THE MINISTRIES OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS,
FINANCE AND ECONOMY, INTERNATIONAL TRADE, INDUSTRY AND ENERGY AND
AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES.
   THE UNITED STATES AND JAPAN HAVE BEEN RELUCTANT TO ACCEPT THE
IDEA OF A BUSINESS TRAVEL CARD, HE SAID, ADDING THAT THE FIVE
COUNTRIES WILL FIRST APPLY THE VISA WAIVER SYSTEM TO THEMSELVES
ALONE IN THE FIRST STAGE.
   IT WILL THEN PRESSURE WASHINGTON AND TOKYO TO ACCEPT THE IDEA
LATER, HE HOPED.
   UNDER THE PROGRAM, PLASTIC CARDS WILL BE ISSUED, AT THE INITIAL
STAGE, TO ENTREPRENEURS OF BIG BUSINESSES AND BUSINESSMEN FROM
LARGE TRADING FIRMS BEFORE BEING EXPANDED TO SMALL BUSINESSES.
   CANADA ALSO SHOWED INTEREST IN THE IDEA OF FORMING APEC AS A
COMMUNITY AND RECENTLY EXPRESSED ITS WILLINGNESS TO DEAL WITH THE
SUBJECT AS A MAJOR ISSUE AT NEXT YEAR'S APEC SUMMIT IN CANADA, CHO
SAID.
   AMONG OTHER ISSUES TO BE DISCUSSED DURING THE APEC SOM IN
MANILA SCHEDULED UNTIL SUNDAY IS THE MORATORIUM ON NEW MEMBERSHIP
OF THE APEC AND INDIVIDUAL ACTION PLANS TO IMPLEMENT THE ACTION
AGENDA ADOPTED DURING THE OSAKA APEC SUMMIT ON TIMETABLES FOR TRADE
AND INVESTMENT LIBERALIZATION.(MORE) YONHAP 0445 GMT 101696
16/10/96 04-49G