Hanoi (VNA) – Many foreign press outlets havedescribed APEC 2017, with the APEC Economic Leaders’ Week in Da Nang city fromNovember 6-11 the highlight, as a diplomatic success of Vietnam this year.
A recent article published on The Diplomat wrotethat: “Vietnam, as the host of this year’s APEC, one again demonstrated itsdiplomatic skills at balancing between the two superpowers – China and theUnited States – so as to take care of its own interests.”
During the APEC Economic Leaders’ Week, Vietnamsuccessfully issued two important joint statements – one with the US and theother with China, the article noted, adding that in the joint statement withthe US, “Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang, and Trump reaffirmed tostrengthen and expand their countries’ Comprehensive Partnership by promotingbilateral trade and investment and deepening defense and security cooperation.”
“According to its joint statement with China,Vietnam welcomed and supported Xi’s signature policy, the Belt and RoadInitiative. Specifically, both sides agreed to enhance cooperation on economyand trade, industrial capacity, investment, infrastructure, and finance,” TheDiplomat noted.
Sharing the same view, an article on South ChinaMorning Post (China) wrote that: “It has been a big week for Vietnam’sdiplomacy, as it hosted the APEC summit for a second time.”
The newspaper highlighted US President DonaldTrump’s first multilateral appearance in the Asia-Pacific region, noting thathis visit to Hanoi brought more commercial gain, with 12 billion USD in ordersfor engines and services for the aviation and energy sectors.
[APEC 2017 a comprehensive success: Deputy PM Pham Binh Minh]
In another article, The Independent of the UKhighly evaluated Vietnam’s contributions to inclusive growth in the region whenit proposed the theme and priorities for APEC Year 2017.
It stressed the initiative on promotinginclusiveness in developing regional economy, society, and finance, which metmany members’ concerns for ensuring their people as well as entrepreneurs takepart fully and share interests equally from economic growth and connections, inthe context of increased inequality and development gap.
“Vietnam’s efforts to propose the suitable APECtheme, priorities and cooperative initiatives have met the concerns andinterests of other APEC member economies, businesses and people, beingconsistent with the general trend in international cooperation and contributingto the regional socio-economic development strategies, including sustainabledevelopment and human-centered development.”
The article concluded that: “By hosting the 2017APEC, Vietnam has not only reaffirmed its policy of deepening internationalintegration and attaching great importance to Asia-Pacific, including regionalcooperation mechanisms like the APEC Forum. It has also highlighted itsstrategic visions towards a peaceful, stable and dynamic Asia-Pacific region,which continues to be the driver of regional as well as global economic growthand linkages.
Meanwhile, News Strait Times of Singapore postedan article on Vietnam’s Doi moi (reform) written by Malaysian Minister ofInternational Trade and Industry Mustapa Mohamed, who noted: “This year, ourneighbor, Vietnam, hosted the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit.There is a lot other countries, including Malaysia, that can learn from it.”
“Vietnam now occupies an important place in theregion and the world through the determination of its people, a sound educationsystem and constructive international engagement, as well as its opening up toforeign trade and investment,” the official wrote, adding that Malaysia “canand should take notice of this example.”-VNA