At the event (Source: VNA) Da Nang (VNA) - The Chair of the APEC and ASEAN Leaders' Informal Dialogue on November 10 issued a press statement. The full text of the press statement runs as follows:
THE CHAIR’S PRESS STATEMENT
APEC AND ASEAN LEADERS’INFORMAL DIALOGUE
“PARTNERINGFOR NEW DYNAMISM FOR A COMPREHENSIVELY CONNECTED AND INTEGRATED ASIA-PACIFIC”
On the occasion of the 25th APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting, the APEC and ASEAN Informal Dialogue under thetheme “Partnering for New Dynamism for aComprehensively Connected and Integrated Asia-Pacific” was held for thefirst time on 10 November 2017 in the city of Da Nang, Vietnam. The Dialoguewas chaired by H.E. Tran Dai Quang, President of the Social Republic of Vietnam, Chair of the 2017 APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting, with the participationof APEC and ASEAN Leaders.
The Dialogue aimed at providing fresh impetus to cooperation andintegration in the Asia Pacific at a time when the region is at a criticaljuncture with profound changes. Apart from the challenges of slowingintegration and the risks facing regional growth in the medium and long term,there are emerging positive trends that present the Asia-Pacific withsignificant opportunities, including the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
Inspired by a shared vision for acomprehensively connected and integrated Asia-Pacific, the APEC and ASEANLeaders exchanged views on the urgent need and measures to strengtheningcooperation and synergies between the two mechanisms in addressing commonchallenges and reinforcing a sustainable, transparent and highly-adaptableregional economic architecture. They highlighted various areas of potentialcooperation, including trade and investment; promotion of physical,institutional and people-to-people connectivity; supply chains connectivity,global value chains; globalization of micro, small and medium enterprises,human resources development, and addressing climate change, among others.
Thetwo sides also provided updates on the implementation of the relevant regionaleconomic integration initiatives, including the Free Trade Area of theAsia-Pacific (FTAAP), the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP)and the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement.
The Dialogue bears specialsignificance as APEC will soon enter its fourth decade in less than two yearsand is preparing for a post-2020 vision while ASEAN is celebrating its 50th Anniversary and redoubling efforts to realize the ASEAN Community Vision 2025.Given the respective achievements of APEC and ASEAN in promoting regionalintegration over the past several decades, the two mechanisms are expected tocontinue to promote the Asia-Pacific's role as a driver of global growth andintegration.
Leaders of APEC and ASEAN welcomedVietnam’s initiative to host the Dialogue and considered it as a vividtestament of the will and determination of their respective members inreinforcing a comprehensively integrated and inter-connected Asia-Pacific forpeace, stability, dynamism and prosperity.-VNA