Vietnamese Deputy Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son speaks at the ISOM in Hanoi on December 9 (Photo: VNA)Hanoi (VNA) – Peru has officiallyhanded over the chair of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) for 2017to Vietnam at the Informal Senior Official Meeting (ISOM) among APEC members inHanoi on December 9.
At the event, the first among five SOMs inthe APEC Year 2017, Vietnam presented four priorities it has set for the year.
The priorities are sustainable, innovativeand inclusive growth; regional economic connectivity; competitivenessimprovement for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs); food security andthe development of sustainable farming in response to climate change.
Expressing approval of those priorities,participants said building new growth momentum is key to help APEC prove itsleadership and pioneer role in boosting economic recovery and connectivityacross the region, given the current slowdown in the global economy.
They proposed that APEC should promotesustainable and inclusive growth models which could produce equal benefits for everyone.
They also highlighted the necessity oforganising more communication campaigns on the benefits that APEC programmes canbring to businesses and people in the region.
Chairing the meeting, Vietnamese DeputyForeign Minister Bui Thanh Son stated that all proposals made by participatingcountries are important to steering cooperation directions of APEC in the next12 months.
The comments from APEC members will bestudied and integrated in the official priorities of APEC 2017 to be passed atthe first Senior Official Meeting (SOM1) slated for March 2017 in the centralcity of Nha Trang, he said.
Next year, Vietnam will organise about 200APEC events across 10 major cities, with the biggest being the APEC week in DaNang in November.-VNA
VNA
