Vietnam’s policies are helping to foster multi-level economicconnectivity in the Asia-Pacific as well as the building of an ASEANCommunity and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh made theaffirmation while opening the conference “APEC in the 21st centuryAsia-Pacific” in Hanoi on November 15.
This is themost important meeting of the forum hosted by Vietnam this year,which coincides with the country’s 15th year of APEC membership.
Former Deputy Prime Minister Vu Khoan, former Australian ForeignMinister Alexander Downer and Chief Economist of the UN Economic andSocial Commission for Asia and the Pacific Nagesh Kumar were amongothers to attend the event, jointly organised by the Foreign Ministryand the UNDP Vietnam.
In his speech, Minh also stressed that the conference took place at an important time of APEC as well as the region.
After the global financial crisis, the economic-political panorama inAsia-Pacific and the world as a whole has changed dramatically, Minhsaid.
APEC has the opportunity to strengthen itspotential and position, the official said, adding that challenges stillremain, especially those in the implementation of the Bogor Goals –long-term economic strategies first agreed in 1994 - the reformprocess and contributions to regional and international issues.
APEC members are sharing interests and responsibilities in supportingmember economies to recover, maintaining the region’s key position inthe global economy as well as peace, stability, cooperation andprosperity in the region, he affirmed.
At theconference, APEC members spoke highly of Vietnam’s positive, activeand effective contribution to APEC over the past 15 years.
They highlighted the outstanding outcomes of the 14th APEC EconomicLeaders’ Meeting in Hanoi in 2006, especially the identification ofthe long term likelihood of an Asia-Pacific free trade area, the HanoiAction Plan to implement the Bogor Goals and general renovation measuresin order to create new driving forces for APEC cooperation.
Vietnam in its capacity as Chairman or Vice Chairman of APECworking groups has contributed positively to promoting cooperation inthe forum, they said.
The country is also considered anactive member with over 70 initiatives in boosting trade liberalisation,SME development, human resources development, health, emergencyresponse, search and rescue, anti-terrorism and aviation safety,according to the delegates.
The conference alsoproposed how to strengthen Vietnam ’s participation and contributionto APEC while intensifying comprehensive international integration.
APEC member states pledged to collaborate with Vietnam tosuccessfully organise the 6th APEC Ministerial Meeting on humanresources development next year.
Deputy PM and FMPham Binh Minh also hosted a banquet in honour of the delegates on theoccasion of Vietnam’s 15-year membership of APEC.
Within the framework of the conference, Foreign Ministry leadersreceived Tan Jian, Head of China’s APEC Senior Official Meeting, toexchange views on collaboration in organising APEC Year 2014 in China.
Representatives of the Ministries of ForeignAffairs, Industry and Trade, and Planning and Investment worked with DrAland Bollard, Executive Director of APEC Secretariat, to discuss thepreparations for the APEC year and the 25 th APEC Economic Leaders’Meeting in Vietnam in 2017.-VNA
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh made theaffirmation while opening the conference “APEC in the 21st centuryAsia-Pacific” in Hanoi on November 15.
This is themost important meeting of the forum hosted by Vietnam this year,which coincides with the country’s 15th year of APEC membership.
Former Deputy Prime Minister Vu Khoan, former Australian ForeignMinister Alexander Downer and Chief Economist of the UN Economic andSocial Commission for Asia and the Pacific Nagesh Kumar were amongothers to attend the event, jointly organised by the Foreign Ministryand the UNDP Vietnam.
In his speech, Minh also stressed that the conference took place at an important time of APEC as well as the region.
After the global financial crisis, the economic-political panorama inAsia-Pacific and the world as a whole has changed dramatically, Minhsaid.
APEC has the opportunity to strengthen itspotential and position, the official said, adding that challenges stillremain, especially those in the implementation of the Bogor Goals –long-term economic strategies first agreed in 1994 - the reformprocess and contributions to regional and international issues.
APEC members are sharing interests and responsibilities in supportingmember economies to recover, maintaining the region’s key position inthe global economy as well as peace, stability, cooperation andprosperity in the region, he affirmed.
At theconference, APEC members spoke highly of Vietnam’s positive, activeand effective contribution to APEC over the past 15 years.
They highlighted the outstanding outcomes of the 14th APEC EconomicLeaders’ Meeting in Hanoi in 2006, especially the identification ofthe long term likelihood of an Asia-Pacific free trade area, the HanoiAction Plan to implement the Bogor Goals and general renovation measuresin order to create new driving forces for APEC cooperation.
Vietnam in its capacity as Chairman or Vice Chairman of APECworking groups has contributed positively to promoting cooperation inthe forum, they said.
The country is also considered anactive member with over 70 initiatives in boosting trade liberalisation,SME development, human resources development, health, emergencyresponse, search and rescue, anti-terrorism and aviation safety,according to the delegates.
The conference alsoproposed how to strengthen Vietnam ’s participation and contributionto APEC while intensifying comprehensive international integration.
APEC member states pledged to collaborate with Vietnam tosuccessfully organise the 6th APEC Ministerial Meeting on humanresources development next year.
Deputy PM and FMPham Binh Minh also hosted a banquet in honour of the delegates on theoccasion of Vietnam’s 15-year membership of APEC.
Within the framework of the conference, Foreign Ministry leadersreceived Tan Jian, Head of China’s APEC Senior Official Meeting, toexchange views on collaboration in organising APEC Year 2014 in China.
Representatives of the Ministries of ForeignAffairs, Industry and Trade, and Planning and Investment worked with DrAland Bollard, Executive Director of APEC Secretariat, to discuss thepreparations for the APEC year and the 25 th APEC Economic Leaders’Meeting in Vietnam in 2017.-VNA
