• Minister Luis Quesada Incháustegui, APEC Peruvian SOM opened the Asia-Pacific Youth Camp
• Puno Region was chosen as meeting venue for the Titicaca Lake, a source of economic development of the Peruvian South Region

Minister Luis Quesada Incháustegui, APEC Peruvian SOM said that sustainable development is a valued matter by Asia-Pacific Member Economies and that is why it is the main axis of the APEC Youth Camp meeting inaugurated today in Puno.

Minister Quesada informed that APEC promotes trade liberalization and facilitation for all 21 Member Economies but within this dynamic the well-being of the people is implied respecting the individual and the environment: “Sustainable development is a goal fostered by APEC Economies”, he added.

In fact, the APEC Youth Meeting motto “Caring for the Sustainable Development of the Asia-Pacific region” shows the color of the discussions to be held. This meeting has its origin in the Environmental Statement adopted by APEC Ministers in 1993 that says “our environment improves as long as we protect the quality of our air, water and green areas and if we manage our energetic and renewable resources to ensure a sustainable growth and, ultimately, to provide our peoples with a safer future” APEC young delegates will study sustainable development focused in three main areas: Climate change and Hydric resources, Hydric contamination and Water culture.

Minister Luis Quesada also added that Puno was chosen as the venue of this Youth meeting due to its historic background, impressive scenarios, touristic potential and the Titicaca Lake, economic development source for this Peruvian Southern region. It is worth to note that this is why APEC had the initiative to develop a sustainable development project for Puno, approved by the Asia-Pacific Forum in 2007. Delegates will use Titicaca Lake as a study case to observe both economic activities that will benefit or impact the lake or its inhabitants, and the biodiversity and contamination. They will also practice experiential tourism to know the coexistence of several communities in the area.

Today, representatives of the Peruvian Ministry of Environment, The Special Binational Titicaca Lake Project, University of the High Plateau, Centro Bartolomé de las Casas, Public University Agraria La Molina and Ministry of Foreign Affairs attended the meeting.

APEC Youth Camp gathers 20 to 25 year-old Young people from different Forum Economies. This Forum has as main objective to promote sustainable development information and knowledge among the youth in general.