APEC leaders and their spouses post for a group photo (Photo: VNA)Da Nang (VNA) – President Tran Dai Quang delivered a welcomeaddress at the Gala Dinner in celebration of the 25th APEC 2017Economic Leaders’ Meeting in the central city of Da Nang on November 10.
The following is the full text of the address.
WELCOMEADDRESS
BY H.E. MR. TRAN DAI QUANG, PRESIDENT OF THE SOCIALISTREPUBLIC OF VIET NAM
ATTHE GALA DINNER IN CELEBRATION OF
THE25th APEC ECONOMIC LEADERS’ MEETING
Your Majesty,
Excellencies,
Dear friends,
Ladies and gentlemen,
On behalf of the State and people ofViet Nam, I have the honour to extend my warmest welcome to you all to the 25th APECEconomic Leaders’ Meeting in the beautiful and hospitable coastal city of DaNang.
We have just got a glimpse of the fascinating historyof Viet Nam, her marvellous land and charming people. I believe this briefperformance has also illustrated to you the aspiration for peace, the drive forsuccess and, particularly, the optimism and conviction in a better future ofeach and every Vietnamese.
In Viet Nam we have a saying “four oceans may we live,one family do we share”. And sharing the Pacific Rim, for decades now, we have enjoyedthe sweet fruits of peace, cooperation and development. Once a battlefield, theAsia-Pacific is now the cradle of economic miracles.
These successes have been founded on our strong beliefin the power of cooperation and dialogue. Your presence here is a vivid exampleof such confidence. The Pacific Ocean may be vast, but such distance does not diminishour will or commitment to cooperation for a better future of the whole region. Sinceits inception nearly 30 years ago, APEC has become thepremier regional economic forum, an incubator for ideas and initiatives on growth and integration as well astrade and investment liberalization. It has also become the coordinatingmechanism for regional economic cooperation. By working together to strengthenAPEC’s leadership in regional and global economic governance, we can turn theforecast of the 21st Century as the “Century of the Asia-Pacific” intoreality.
We gather here today as the regional and global economicoutlook is seeing better prospects. Exactly a decade after the 2008-2009 globaleconomic crisis, we are seeing firmer global recovery. Growth in theAsia-Pacific has been nearly twice as fast as the global average.
Particularly encouragingis the increasingly solid recovery and growth of APEC members, especially the majoreconomies. The vitality and resilience of the regional economy brings to mindthe Vietnamese bamboo trees, supple yet firm and strong even in face of themost violent storms. This compels us to take bolder actions to realize the BogorGoals and define APEC’s strategic direction for the future.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Geographically, Viet Nam is at the front of continentalSoutheast Asia looking out to the Pacific Ocean. For Viet Nam, the Asia-Pacificregion is always at the top of our foreign policy priority and development strategy.Since the launch of Doi moi, Viet Namhas twice had the honour to host APEC. This alone is an indication of thereality that Viet Nam’s future is inseparable from that of the region, exactlyas reflected in the chosen theme for APEC 2017 – “Creating New Dynamism, Fostering a Shared Future”.
When Viet Nam first hosted APEC 11 years ago, we werein the early days of our journey of regional and international economicintegration. Viet Nam has since joined the group of middle-income economies,with per capita income tripling from 730 USD to nearly 2,400 USD. Viet Nam today is an active and responsible memberof regional and global cooperation mechanisms and an important link in key regionaleconomic integration networks.
The achievements recorded during 20 years of APECmembership underline Viet Nam’s determination to engage in a process of comprehensiverenovation and extensive integration. They also highlight our commitment to playa more active role in shaping regional and global cooperation mechanisms. Whatwe have achieved thus far is, moreover, the fruits of an ever more deepenedcooperation between Viet Nam and APEC member economies. For Viet Nam to become astrong economy and a favourite destination of international friends, we havemade great strides in strengthening our cooperation. Many APEC members have become Viet Nam’s toptrade and investment partners. APEC members make up 85% of our internationaltourists and are home to 80% of Vietnamese students abroad. This has helpedbring Viet Nam closer to the world and the world closer to Viet Nam. From thebottom of our heart, we hope you will continue to work together with us for thesuccess of APEC and Viet Nam.
While your time here may be short, but I do hope youwill have fond memories of the hospitality and friendship of the Vietnamesepeople, especially the people of Da Nang. In this joyful ambience, may I invite you all to join me in a toast:
To the friendship between and among the people of the great APEC family!
To the success of the 25th APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting!
To the good health and success of you all!
Thank you.-VNA
The following is the full text of the address.
WELCOMEADDRESS
BY H.E. MR. TRAN DAI QUANG, PRESIDENT OF THE SOCIALISTREPUBLIC OF VIET NAM
ATTHE GALA DINNER IN CELEBRATION OF
THE25th APEC ECONOMIC LEADERS’ MEETING
Your Majesty,
Excellencies,
Dear friends,
Ladies and gentlemen,
On behalf of the State and people ofViet Nam, I have the honour to extend my warmest welcome to you all to the 25th APECEconomic Leaders’ Meeting in the beautiful and hospitable coastal city of DaNang.
We have just got a glimpse of the fascinating historyof Viet Nam, her marvellous land and charming people. I believe this briefperformance has also illustrated to you the aspiration for peace, the drive forsuccess and, particularly, the optimism and conviction in a better future ofeach and every Vietnamese.
In Viet Nam we have a saying “four oceans may we live,one family do we share”. And sharing the Pacific Rim, for decades now, we have enjoyedthe sweet fruits of peace, cooperation and development. Once a battlefield, theAsia-Pacific is now the cradle of economic miracles.
These successes have been founded on our strong beliefin the power of cooperation and dialogue. Your presence here is a vivid exampleof such confidence. The Pacific Ocean may be vast, but such distance does not diminishour will or commitment to cooperation for a better future of the whole region. Sinceits inception nearly 30 years ago, APEC has become thepremier regional economic forum, an incubator for ideas and initiatives on growth and integration as well astrade and investment liberalization. It has also become the coordinatingmechanism for regional economic cooperation. By working together to strengthenAPEC’s leadership in regional and global economic governance, we can turn theforecast of the 21st Century as the “Century of the Asia-Pacific” intoreality.
We gather here today as the regional and global economicoutlook is seeing better prospects. Exactly a decade after the 2008-2009 globaleconomic crisis, we are seeing firmer global recovery. Growth in theAsia-Pacific has been nearly twice as fast as the global average.
Particularly encouragingis the increasingly solid recovery and growth of APEC members, especially the majoreconomies. The vitality and resilience of the regional economy brings to mindthe Vietnamese bamboo trees, supple yet firm and strong even in face of themost violent storms. This compels us to take bolder actions to realize the BogorGoals and define APEC’s strategic direction for the future.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Geographically, Viet Nam is at the front of continentalSoutheast Asia looking out to the Pacific Ocean. For Viet Nam, the Asia-Pacificregion is always at the top of our foreign policy priority and development strategy.Since the launch of Doi moi, Viet Namhas twice had the honour to host APEC. This alone is an indication of thereality that Viet Nam’s future is inseparable from that of the region, exactlyas reflected in the chosen theme for APEC 2017 – “Creating New Dynamism, Fostering a Shared Future”.
When Viet Nam first hosted APEC 11 years ago, we werein the early days of our journey of regional and international economicintegration. Viet Nam has since joined the group of middle-income economies,with per capita income tripling from 730 USD to nearly 2,400 USD. Viet Nam today is an active and responsible memberof regional and global cooperation mechanisms and an important link in key regionaleconomic integration networks.
The achievements recorded during 20 years of APECmembership underline Viet Nam’s determination to engage in a process of comprehensiverenovation and extensive integration. They also highlight our commitment to playa more active role in shaping regional and global cooperation mechanisms. Whatwe have achieved thus far is, moreover, the fruits of an ever more deepenedcooperation between Viet Nam and APEC member economies. For Viet Nam to become astrong economy and a favourite destination of international friends, we havemade great strides in strengthening our cooperation. Many APEC members have become Viet Nam’s toptrade and investment partners. APEC members make up 85% of our internationaltourists and are home to 80% of Vietnamese students abroad. This has helpedbring Viet Nam closer to the world and the world closer to Viet Nam. From thebottom of our heart, we hope you will continue to work together with us for thesuccess of APEC and Viet Nam.
While your time here may be short, but I do hope youwill have fond memories of the hospitality and friendship of the Vietnamesepeople, especially the people of Da Nang. In this joyful ambience, may I invite you all to join me in a toast:
To the friendship between and among the people of the great APEC family!
To the success of the 25th APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting!
To the good health and success of you all!
Thank you.-VNA
VNA
