(VOVworld) – President Truong Tan Sang is in Manila to attend the 23rd APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting (AELM). APEC 23 is a priority in Vietnam’s foreign policy in 2015 as it prepares for APEC Year in 2017, contributing to the largest multilateral cooperative mechanism in Asia-Pacific.
Themed “Building Inclusive Economies, Building a Better World” APEC 23 focuses on 4 priorities: enhancing regional economic integration; fostering participation in regional and global markets by micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises; investing in human capital development; and building sustainable and resilient communities. Deputy Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son said: “APEC has been a leader in promoting trade and investment liberalization and regional connectivity. Under its new theme APEC 23 will increase APEC’s role in helping member economies achieve their goals.”
APEC 23 will create new momentum for regional growth, helping to build sustainable and resilient communities.
Vietnam’s contributions to APEC
Vietnam has been a responsible and active member of APEC since it joined the organization 17 years ago. In 2006 Vietnam as APEC Chair hosted APEC 14, the 18th APEC Ministerial Meetings of foreign and economic/trade ministers, and more than 100 other events, where regional officials set up the long-term prospect of a free trade area in the Asia-Pacific, the Hanoi Action Plan on realising the Bogor Goals, along with overall reform measures, creating new momentum for APEC cooperation. Since 2006, Vietnam has proposed and participated in over 90 initiatives covering a wide range of areas. It also hosted the sixth APEC Human Resources Development Ministerial Meeting in Hanoi in September 2014. Vietnam has served in many important positions in APEC.
Joining APEC was an important step in Vietnam’s foreign policy of integration. During the new strategic period APEC will continue to be an important regional cooperative mechanism for Vietnam in its comprehensive international integration because many APEC members are strategic partners or important partners of Vietnam.
A new step in APEC cooperation
Participating in this year’s meeting will expand Vietnam’s multilateral diplomacy in Asia Pacific and prepare Vietnam to host APEC 24 in 2017. APEC members have acknowledged and appreciated Vietnam’s ideas and initiatives in natural disaster response, energy and food security, human resource development, and supporting medium and small enterprise participation in global markets. Deputy Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son said: “Vietnam’s priorities should match those of APEC 23. We’ll learn from this meeting how to successfully host APEC 24 in 2017.”
Participating in APEC 23 is also an opportunity for Vietnam to strengthen bilateral cooperation with the Philippines and other APEC members.