for example by improving the transport and telecommunications links s well as by some sensible co-ordination where divergent policies currently impede economic transactions among the three economics. The"growth triangle" around Singapore is driven by the same forces and motives, but there is more explicit, though voluntary, co-operation among governments to provide the infrastructure needed to link the adjacent parts of their economies. Its geographic coverage is also likely to increase over time through the investment decisions of local and global firms. Links with the nearby SEZ around Hong Kong will strengthen naturally and. since the growth triangle does not restrict the policies of any government, it coexists readily with the emerging ASEAN free trade(AFTA) respects, these successful, globally oriented zones of integrated In many production are prototypes of OEAs. Their success is leading others to follow a approach to promote voluntary associations among neighbouring regions of different countries. Recent initiatives include a'Baht zone" to promote the integration of Thailand's economy with Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos: a Yellow Sea zone of co-operation and links between the adjoining regions of Brunei, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippincs All of these initiatives can be distinguished sharply from discriminatory They intend to deepen among participants, especially through the improvement of communications and other infrastructure for mutual benefit, there is no of weakening links with any other global economy initiatives in open can coexist and facilitate, the region-wide integration of production driven by international investment, particularly from North East Asia. They are also fully compatible with s push for region-wide integration, as well as with the fundamental non-discriminatory principles of the GATTNTO. APEC: a region-wide OEA in 1989. APEC Following detailed consultations among potential partlcipants has evolved as a nexible, open and process. Its agenda has focused on issues of shared economic interest and its principl structure and objectives have been agreed consensus. Agreements on these matters, as by well as the commitment tn dismantle barriers to economic transactions a and participants, have been expressed in joint declarations of APEC leaders ministers. These are statements of serious political intent, which will guide future policy making by individual APEC governments in increasingly convergent directions. bureaucratic or judicial There is no intention to set up any regional over individual APEC institutions with powers of regulation or enforcement governments. All of APEC's principles of operation as well as its objectives are consistent with prornoting as well as reglanal prosperity. None of the agreements among APEC governments have sought to introduce on discrimination among products by of production or among producers