Deputy Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son speaks at the event (Photo: VNA)Deputy Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son, Chairmanof the Senior Officials' Meeting, presided over the event.
The Informal Senior Officials Meeting is dividedinto three sessions, focusing discussion on implementing agreements reached bythe involved parties in Peru; defining the theme and priorities for APEC 2017;and plans for APEC 2017.
A press conference on APEC 2017 is scheduled totake place the same day to showcase Vietnam’s preparation for the event, set tobe hosted in the country next year.
Vietnam has prepared for hosting the APEC 2017since 2013, when it was given the task at the summit in Indonesia.
Vietnam joined APEC in 1998, an importantmilestone for the country in implementing its external policy of diversificationand multilateralisation.
The country successfully hosted APEC 14 in 2006,which laid a foundation for the Asia-Pacific Free Trade areas and adopted theHanoi Action Plan to implement the Bogor goals and initiatives to improveco-operation within APEC.
Vietnam proposed the theme of APEC 2017 as“Creating new driving force for a common future” with priorities concentratingon economic growth, regional integration, agriculture, food, innovation andsmall-scale businesses.
Established in 1989, APEC comprises 21economies, including Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, China, Hong Kong,Indonesia, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, PapuaNew Guinea, Peru, the Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, the US andVietnam./.
