INTRODUCTION

1. In East and Southeast Asia, governments have gotten involved in markets in the early stages of economic development to foster private-sector industries.

2. As industries have become internationally competitive, the governments have liberalized trade and investment and deregulated markets. That has invigorated trade, investment, and technological cooperation in the region and led to market expansion and development.

3. This March, Keidanren prepared its "Interim Report on Cooperation for Continued Development in Asia" and hosted the "Asian Neighbors Forum."

4. In advance of the November convening of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum in Indonesia, Keidanren summarized recent discussions and how is making public its basic thought on intraregional cooperation in the APEC region in this document.