Professor Go Ito from Japan’s Meiji University said Vietam has made significant contributions to the APEC cooperation. (Photo: VNA)Tokyo (VNA) – Vietnam has made significant contributions to the Asia-PacificEconomic (APEC) cooperation, especially with the country hosting APEC Year2017, said Professor Go Ito from Japan’s Meiji University.
Speaking to Vietnam News Agency on the threshold of the APEC 2017 EconomicLeaders’ Week in Da Nang city in November, Ito said that as an emerging economywith impressive growth, Vietnam has played an important part in the forum.
He lauded APEC’s role as the world’s leading economic forum to promote freetrade and sustainable growth in the context of increasing protectionism.Protectionism can be good for some sectors with poor competitive capacity inthe short term, however, it will be meaningless if the sectors cannot improve theircompetitiveness in the future, he noted.
There are various opportunities and challenges to carrying out APEC Year 2017’spriorities, including strengthening regional economic connectivity, fosteringsustainable, creative and inclusive growth, supporting micro, small andmedium firms and enhancing food security and sustainable agriculture.
Some sectors havestruggled with changes in the 21st century while others havethrived, he said, adding that APEC economies should focus on areas withfeasible growth.
It is difficult to prioritise sectors, but competitiveness will develop whenmany economies opt for the same field, he said.-VNA
VNA
