Leaders of APEC economies at the APEC Week IN lIMA (Photo: VNA)During theAPEC Week in Lima, Peru,along with bilateral meetings, member economies and the business community showedstrong support for the APEC 2017 in Vietnam, he said.
They agreedwith Vietnam’sproposal for the event’s theme of “Creating New Dynamism, Fostering a SharedFuture” as well as plan for holding activities throughout the year, he said.
This reflectstheir hope for new momentum helping APEC recover its economic and trade growth,expanding cooperation to new areas and deepening regional connections andmeeting development demands of member economies, said the Deputy PM.
APEC membersalso focused on building a post-2020 APEC vision, improving the status of theforum, while fostering partnerships with Vietnam, he stated.
The DeputyPM said that Vietnam’swon trust thanks to the country’s achievements during its renewal process and itscontributions to the forum in past years.
Vietnam’s external policy of independenceand self-reliance and successful organisation of APEC Year 2006 were also laudedby members, he said.
The DeputyPM underscored that the APEC Year 2017 would show Vietnam’sstrategic vision for the changing Asia-Pacific region and the country’s multilateralexternal relations’ growth.
Meanwhile,Deputy Minister Bui Thanh Son revealed that during the 24th APECWeek, which was held in Lima,Peru fromNovember 14-20, leaders of member economies highlighted their determination toboost the liberalisation of trade and investment and to improve growth qualityand people’s development.
He said thatamidst the current difficult situation, this is a message of significantmeaning, showing the pioneering role of the APEC in trade and investmentliberalisation.
At the sametime, participants reached a new step forwards in fostering regional connectivitythrough the adoption of two documents – the Lima Declaration on Free Trade Areaof the Asia Pacific (FTAAP) and the roadmap for improving servicecompetitiveness that aims at a 6.8 percent rise annually of APEC’s servicegrowth.
The outcomesare expected to create momentum for the growth of service trade, raising labourproductivity.
As part ofjoint efforts to realise the UN Sustainable Development Goals, APEC members agreedto enhance links between rural and urban areas, strengthen food security andcooperation in developing food markets, boost the support industry, respond toclimate change and manage water resources in a sustainable way.
APEC willcontinue promoting its role in coordinating with international and regional organisationsand cooperation mechanisms, said Son, adding that APEC leaders met with leadersof the Asia-Pacific Alliance on cooperation prospects.
Leaders ofthe 12 member countries of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) also joined the seventhSummit duringwhich they affirmed their determination to continue speeding up theimplementation of the deal to deepen regional connectivity, he said.
Regarding Vietnam’s contributionto the APEC Week as the host of the APEC Year 2017, Deputy FM Son said that theVietnamese delegation, led by President Tran Dai Quang, attended all majorevents of the week, the TPP Summit and the high-level dialogue with theAsia-Pacific Alliance. President Quang addressed the closing of the APECBusiness Summit.
Vietnam joined discussions on major issuesat the events, stressing the need to forge sustainable growth, develop skills andimprove labour productivity and competitivenss, especially for small firms.
Vietnam alsoshared its experience in cooperation in a number of areas including boostingthe development of support industry growth, increasing the engagement ofbusinesses to global supply and value chains and fostering the infrastructure system’sconnection and developing institutions and people.
Vietnam also contributed to the conclusionof the strategic research on the Asia-Pacific Free Trade Area, opening up a developmentspace for businesses and Vietnam’seconomy when the FTAAP is realised.
As the hostof the APEC Year 2017, Vietnamgave ideas on orientations for APEC after 2020, while voicing messages on buildingan APEC for people and enterprises, he said.
Deputy FMSon also noted that during his stay in Lima, President Tran Dai Quang had anumber of meetings and talks with leaders of APEC members, including the Presidentsof Peru, China, Russia, the US, Chile, Brunei, and the Prime Ministers ofJapan, Australia, Canada, Singapore, Papua New Guinea, and the Indonesian VicePresident.
The Stateleader also attended the Vietnam-Peru Business Foum and met leaders of manyleading firms of the region.
During themeetings, they discussed expanding bilateral ties and enhancing cooperation atmultilateral forums, including the APEC.
Vietnam andPeru also signed an agreement on partnership in culture, fisheries and fightingdrugs, while deciding to create favourable conditions for businesses of eachcountry to access the Southeast Asian and Latin American markets, and boostingaffiliation in telecommunications and oil and gas.
Leaders of the economic groups spoke highly of Vietnam’seconomic outlook as well as the country’s efforts to improve its investmentenvironment. They affirmed their wish to invest in Vietnam to take advantage of thecountry’s international integration, including the joining of the ASEANCommunity and new generation free trade agreements. They pledged to join APECYear 2017 in Vietnam,said Son./.
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