A recent article published on The Diplomat wrote that, “Vietnam, as the host of this year’s APEC, one again demonstrated its diplomatic skills at balancing between the two superpowers – China and the United States – so as to take care of its own interests.”
During the APEC Economic Leaders’ Week, Vietnam successfully issued two important joint statements – one with the US and the other with China, the article noted, adding that in the joint statement with the US, “Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang, and US President Donald Trump reaffirmed to strengthen and expand their countries’ Comprehensive Partnership by promoting bilateral trade and investment and deepening defense and security cooperation.”
“According to its joint statement with China, Vietnam welcomed and supported Xi’s signature policy, the Belt and Road Initiative. Specifically, both sides agreed to enhance cooperation on economy and trade, industrial capacity, investment, infrastructure, and finance,” The Diplomat noted.
Sharing the same view, an article on South China Morning Post (China) wrote that: “It has been a big week for Vietnam’s diplomacy, as it hosted the APEC summit for a second time.”
The newspaper highlighted US President Donald Trump’s first multilateral appearance in the Asia-Pacific region, noting that his visit to Hanoi brought more commercial gain, with USD 12 billion in orders for engines and services for the aviation and energy sectors.
In another article, The Independent of the UK highly evaluated Vietnam’s contributions to inclusive growth in the region when it proposed the theme and priorities for APEC Year 2017.
It stressed the initiative on promoting inclusiveness in developing regional economy, society, and finance, which met many members’ concerns for ensuring their people as well as entrepreneurs take part fully and share interests equally from economic growth and connections, in the context of increased inequality and development gap.
“Vietnam’s efforts to propose the suitable APEC theme, priorities and cooperative initiatives have met the concerns and interests of other APEC member economies, businesses and people, being consistent with the general trend in international cooperation and contributing to the regional socio-economic development strategies, including sustainable development and human-centered development.”
The article concluded that: “By hosting the 2017 APEC, Vietnam has not only reaffirmed its policy of deepening international integration and attaching great importance to Asia-Pacific, including regional cooperation mechanisms like the APEC Forum. It has also highlighted its strategic visions towards a peaceful, stable and dynamic Asia-Pacific region, which continues to be the driver of regional as well as global economic growth and linkages.
Meanwhile, News Strait Times of Singapore posted an article on Vietnam’s Doi moi (reform) written by Malaysian Minister of International Trade and Industry Mustapa Mohamed, who noted: “This year, our neighbor, Vietnam, hosted the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit. There is a lot other countries, including Malaysia, that can learn from it.”
“Vietnam now occupies an important place in the region and the world through the determination of its people, a sound education system and constructive international engagement, as well as its opening up to foreign trade and investment,” the official wrote, adding that Malaysia “can and should take notice of this example.”
Source: VNA