Speaking to the press ahead of the APEC Summit Week 2023, Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Minh Hang emphasized that President Vo Van Thuong's trip to attend the APEC Summit and bilateral activities in the US is of great significance.
The APEC Summit Week will take place from November 14-17, 2023 in San Francisco, USA, marking 25 years of Vietnam's participation in APEC. Could you please share with us about Vietnam's contributions to the Forum in recent times?
- Looking back at the 25-year journey of participating in APEC, we can affirm that the decision to join APEC in 1998 was a strategic decision in the country's international economic integration, laying the foundation for global integration and contributing to the development of Vietnam as well as the region.
Over the past 25 years, Vietnam has made active, responsible and effective contributions to all areas of cooperation, leaving many important marks in the APEC process. Three outstanding marks can be highlighted:
Firstly , Vietnam is one of the few economies that has been trusted by members to host APEC twice in 2006 and 2017. Under Vietnam's chairmanship, the two APEC Summits in Hanoi in 2006 and Da Nang in 2017 were both highly successful, achieving important results and having strategic significance for the APEC Forum as well as economic cooperation and linkages in the Asia-Pacific region.
Second , Vietnam is one of the most active members in proposing initiatives and cooperation projects, with nearly 150 projects, in areas ranging from human resource development, promoting e-commerce, food security, enhancing women's economic empowerment to rural and urban development, ocean waste, and responding to climate change...
Third , we have affirmed our role in managing and promoting the implementation of APEC cooperation programs through taking on important positions in the Forum's mechanisms. Notably, we have been the Executive Director of the APEC Secretariat, Chair of the ASEAN Group in APEC, Chair/Vice Chair of many important committees and working groups of the Forum. Vietnamese enterprises have also contributed and actively participated in the APEC Business Advisory Council and the APEC Business Summit.
Looking back over the past 25 years, closely following the Party's foreign policy, implementing the policy that Vietnam is a friend, a reliable partner and a responsible member of the international community, we have participated in APEC in a proactive, positive and responsible manner and have made many contributions to the development of the APEC Forum.
Could you please tell us about the significance and discussion content of the 30th APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting, which will take place on November 16-17?
- APEC is currently the leading economic cooperation and linkage mechanism in Asia - Pacific, accounting for 39% of the population, 59% of GDP and nearly 50% of world trade. This year's Summit is of great significance, reflected in two aspects:
First , this year's Summit marks exactly 30 years since the first APEC Summit, also held in the United States. At that time, the leaders agreed on a common vision for an Asia-Pacific economic community for the stability, security and prosperity of the people.
Second , this year's conference takes place in the context of profound changes in the world economic situation and international and regional economic linkages; risks and challenges are intertwined with great opportunities for cooperation and development; traditional and non-traditional security challenges are evolving in a complex manner. Therefore, this is a time that requires APEC members to enhance dialogue and cooperation, turning challenges into opportunities for recovery and sustainable development.
How will Vietnam's participation at this year's Summit Week contribute to the overall success of the conferences, Mr. Deputy Minister?
- At the invitation of US President Joe Biden, President Vo Van Thuong and his wife will join a high-ranking Vietnamese delegation to attend the APEC 2023 Summit Week and combine bilateral activities in the US, from November 14-17, 2023.
Given the special significance of this year's APEC Summit and in the context of the Vietnam-US relationship continuing to develop strongly in recent times with the two countries establishing a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership framework, the President's visit to attend the APEC Summit and bilateral activities in the US is of great significance.
The President will join APEC leaders in discussing key issues for the world and regional economy, and set out directions for cooperation in trade, investment, science and technology, innovation and many other areas.
Vietnam will work with members to promote the spirit of dialogue, construction, responsibility, uphold multilateralism, cooperation and joint action for sustainable development and prosperity of the region.
The President will attend, speak and have many working sessions at the APEC Business Summit. This is the largest event of the business community in the region with the participation of more than 2,000 leaders of leading corporations in the world and the Asia-Pacific region.
Here, the President will convey a strong message to the business community to join hands to contribute, overcome challenges in the current period and take advantage of opportunities to promote sustainable development of the region and each economy, including Vietnam.
With the US, the President's activities at the APEC Summit and bilateral activities with senior leaders and US partners, especially in California, will continue to promote bilateral relations in the spirit of the recent Joint Statement on the establishment of the Vietnam-US Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, especially in the fields of education and training, science and technology, innovation and local connectivity.
It can be affirmed that the President's working trip to attend the 30th APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting combined with bilateral activities in the US is one of the important activities in the 2023 foreign affairs program of the Party and State leaders, thereby continuing to maintain and consolidate the peaceful, stable foreign affairs situation, favorable for the country's development.
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