While chairing the sixth session of the Committee in Hanoi on December 21, Deputy PM Minh hailed efforts of member ministries, agencies and localities to prepare for the event.
He asked participants to examine completed works as well as point out difficulties, challenges and experience in the preparation process in the last year.
Deputy PM Pham Binh Minh (C) chairing the session
Relevant ministries, sectors and localities have promptly grasped international trends and concerns of APEC member economies, thus proposing the year’s theme “Creating new driving force for a common future”, he said.
Vietnam’s four priorities for the year, including strengthening regional economic connectivity; fostering sustainable, creative and inclusive growth; supporting micro, small and medium enterprises; and enhancing food security and sustainable agriculture, and climate change adaptation, were supported by APEC member economies, he noted.
According to the Deputy PM, the preparation was conducted early and actively in the spirit of taking full advantage of facilities available and mobilising social resources, while the communication work was deployed swiftly with many creative ideas, contributing to widely promoting the images of the land, people, tourism and economic potential of Vietnam to international and regional friends.
However, he also mentioned limitations that must be addressed in the coming time in order to ensure the effective implementation of activities during the APEC Year 2017.
With nearly 200 activities to be organised across the country, including the APEC Summit Week in the central city of Da Nang, APEC 2017 will be a focus of Vietnam’s external affairs to affirm the Party and State policy on promoting international integration and multilateral external relations, contributing to elevating Vietnam’s position in the world arena in the new situation.
Senior officials from APEC member economies will gather in Nha Trang city of the central province of Khanh Hoa for their first meeting (SOM1) in March 2017.
APEC 2017 is hoped to offer an opportunity for Vietnam to enhance its economic, trade and investment ties with APEC member economies and promote the country’s image.
Established in November 1989, APEC now comprises 21 economies, representing around 39 percent of the world’s population, 57 percent of total global GDP and 47 percent of international trade.
Vietnam joined the forum in November 1998 and successfully hosted the 2006 APEC and the 6th APEC Human Resources Development Ministerial Meeting in 2014.
The National Committee was set up in mid-2015 and consists of five sub-committees in charge of content, logistics, health and security, communications and protocol preparations for APEC 2017.
Source: VNA