The Da NangDeclaration Creating New Dynamism, Fostering a Shared Future reaffirmsleaders’ long-standing commitment to APEC’s mission of supporting sustainableeconomic growth and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific.
With high consensusreached among APEC leaders, the 2017 APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting adopted thedocument, creating new dynamism for a shared future, President Tran Dai Quangtold local and foreign media in a follow-up press conference on the same day.
“This is the most importantoutcome of the summit as well as the APEC Year 2017,” he emphasised.
Recognising thesignificant challenges the region’s economies face, their leaders pledge towork together and take the following actions: promote innovative growth,inclusion and sustainable employment; create new drivers for regional economicintegration, strengthen the capacity and innovation of micro, small and mediumenterprises; enhance food security and sustainable agriculture in responseto climate change; and foster a shared future.
During the twodiscussion sessions, the leaders agreed that in order to improve growthquality, competitiveness and productivity of member economies, it is imperativethat APEC member economies to reinforce education quality, equip regional labourerswith skills to better adapt to employment environment and labour market whichare under significant changes due to the fourth industrial revolution.
“We have adopted aframework for the development of human resources in the digital age,” said thePresident.
“Measures and policiesmentioned in the framework will not only meet the general concerns of theregion, but also an impetus for Vietnam to continue effectively implementingstrategic breakthroughs in human resources development, particularly highquality human resources.”
With the aim togenerate new dynamisms for sustainable and inclusive growth, President Quangnoted, the meeting spent a substantial amount of time discussing strategicmeasures to develop micro, small and medium enterprises in a green, sustainableand innovative manner; promote starts-up and supporting industry; developsustainable agriculture in response to climate change; strengthen food, water,and energy security; enhance structural reform and capacity; mitigate naturaldisaster risks; and increase women’s economic empowerment and sustainabletourism development.
The leaders agreed that promoting free and open trade andinvestment is the mission of APEC economies to continue fostering regionallinkages and connectivity, contributing to maintaining Asia-Pacific as a driverof global economic growth and connection, he said.
“The meeting reaffirmed the commitment to completing the achievement of theBogor Goals on liberalisation and facilitation of trade and investment, andenhancing economic and technical cooperation in efforts towards the formationof the Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP).”
“The leaders emphasised the role of APEC in backing a law-based, free, open,fair, transparent and inclusive multilateral trade system” he said.
The meeting applauded the approval of cross-border e-commerce that createsconditions for APEC to effectively tap potential for developingInternet/digital economy and global supply and value chains.
It will be a forum that is resilient and capable of dealing with globalchallenges as well as highly adaptive to a rapidly changing world.
This decision reflects the determination of the APEC member economies to buildthe Asia-Pacific community of peace, stability, dynamism, cohesion andprosperity, with people and businesses being the centre, he stressed.
In order to promotethe role of APEC as a forum that initiates and coordinates ideas on regionallinkages and connectivity, on this occasion, Vietnam organised the APEC-ASEANInformal Dialogue for the first time with the participation of leaders of APECeconomies and ten ASEAN countries, he said.
Vietnam became amember of the APEC community in 1998, since then the country has host the APECYear twice in 2006 and 2017.
“Vietnam is an activeand responsible member of the international community with an open economywhich is deepening its international economic integration,” said PresidentQuang.
More than 240 meetingswere held across then localities across Vietnam throughout the year to preparefor the leaders’ meeting.-VNA