APEC’s Role at New Conjuncture

TIN LIÊN QUAN
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SOM 3 and its related meetings are going to be held from August 18th to 30th in Ho Chi Minh City to further promote the implementation of the APEC’s priorities and cooperation. What are the objectives and significance of these events?

Held in the setting of a better economic development in the region and the world, and a greater international economic integration, albeit slower than before, SOM 3 is the last large-scale meeting in 2017 APEC Year. More than 70 meetings of APEC committees and working groups will be held, gathering more than 2,000 delegates.

Two important activities on this occasion are the High-Level Meeting on Health and the Economy and the Seminar on Financial, Economic and Social Inclusion. These events are held at Vietnam’s initiative to drive the region’s inclusive and sustainable growth.

At the meeting, Vietnam will brief other members of the infrastructure, reception, logistics, security, health, and press preparation for AELW as well as arrange visits and meetings between Vietnam and other APEC leaders.SOM 3 is significant to the success of 2017 APEC Year, especially to the APEC Economic Leaders’ Week (AELW). The meeting will discuss the tentative program and the agenda of AELW as well as prepare documents to be submitted to the APEC Leaders and Foreign Ministers in November. Participants will also exchange and finalize initiatives and proposals for the 2017 APEC Year, consisting of inclusive economic, financial and social development, food security, support industry, APEC’s vision beyond 2020 among other things.

Mr. Bui Thanh Son, Permanent Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs and Chairman of APEC 2017 SOM.

From the 18th to 25th of August, the Food Security Week and the High-Level Policy Dialogue on Food Security and Sustainable Agriculture in Response to Climate Change will also be held in Can Tho City to promote APEC’s cooperation in sustainable agriculture as well as to expand the commission of “agricultural development in close association with establishing new rural areas” designated by the Party and the Government of Vietnam.

It can be said that Vietnam has undergone two thirds of the 2017 APEC Year. Would you give us some feedback from other members and international organizations on the preparation, contribution, and initiatives by Vietnam in implementing the four priorities of the Year?

Vietnam hosts APEC events amidst complicated international developments, presenting challenges to its role as the host. However, after three ministerial meetings and four SOMs with the participation of over 5,000 delegates, we can now say that Vietnam has initially done well in chairing, coordinating, and organizing events, which have been acknowledged by international friends.

Members and the APEC Secretariat takes special note of Vietnam’s contribution to further promoting APEC’s interconnection and cooperation, enhancing APEC’s role as a driver of global growth and connection. These successes can be mainly attributed to the creative and flexible proposals as well as delicate coordination in finding a common voice by Vietnam in its capacity as the host. Vietnam’s ideas to improve economic, financial, and social inclusion and human resources development have drawn the attention and support from other members.

APEC delegates have also been impressed by Vietnam’s organization. Leaders and the people in hosting provinces and cities have made careful and thorough preparation, in close coordination with the APEC 2017 Secretariat and related authorities, to ensure that events are smooth sailing. They have also taken the opportunities to promote their economics, trade, investment and tourism strengths. All in all, Vietnam has displayed preparedness, hospitality, and has facilitated the best environment for the delegates to meet and hold discussion, contributing to the success of these events.

Given the dramatic changes in the world economy and the already held APEC events, what does Vietnam think of the expectation to initiate new momentum after 2017 APEC Year?

Considering new challenges resulted from fluctuation in the international scene, other members expect that Vietnam, as the host, would contribute to reestablishing APEC’s role at the new juncture and prompting drive force for APEC to advance into the 4th development decade. Vietnam has more or less met the concern of other members.

Firstly, Vietnam has helped empower the status of the Forum with its leaders’ participation. The message from Vietnam’s leaders conveys a vision of peaceful, stable, increasingly integrated, and prosperous Asian and Pacific community and has strengthened trust and confidence among members to honor their commitment to maintain APEC cooperation and interconnection.

International delegates attended SOM 2. (Photo: TGVN)

Secondly, Vietnam voices its trust for APEC members, and works together with other members in creating new dynamism for the future of APEC. These include preparing activity programs, cooperation plans, and initiatives to enable every person and businessman to contribute and enjoy the fruits of growth and linkages, stepping up the implementation of the Bogor objectives, liberalizing and facilitating trade, setting up a clear and transparent business environment, enhancing the competitiveness and creativity of small and medium businesses, extending food security and developing sustainable agriculture, etc.

Thirdly, Vietnam has also encouraged the business community, scholar network to participate, coordinate with each other and contribute to major APEC events, hence forming a greater synergy and helping members take on a new perspective to further reforms, improving APEC activities’ efficiency and making it a leading organization in resolving global challenges in the future.

There remain three months to the most important event of the year- the 2017 AELW. Could you talk about the preparation by Vietnam?

Ensuring a successful hosting of AELW is of utmost important to the Vietnamese foreign service. As usual, five major events will be held. Those cover the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting, the Business Summit, the Dialogue between the APEC Economic Leaders and members of the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC), the Gala Dinner in Honor of the Leaders and their Spouses, the APEC Ministerial Meeting (jointly participated by foreign ministers and trade ministers), the Concluding Senior Officials Meeting. As for the host’s trademark, Vietnam will also organize the CEO Summit. About 10,000 foreign and Vietnamese delegates are expected to attend those events.

Different subcommittees of the Vietnam National APEC Secretariat are working closely with Da Nang City and Quang Nam province to make “detailed, respectful, careful, efficient, economical, and secure preparations” per instruction from State President Tran Dai Quang.

The preparations in term of contents, infrastructure, reception, logistics, security, health and press have been undergone uniformly and close to the roadmap. All ministries, branches, agencies, cities, and provinces have strived to fulfill the tasks assigned with utmost responsibility, reviewing the pace of arrangement daily and weekly.  

Vietnam has also taken the initiative to invite other members to make the first advance visit last July. Nearly 300 representatives from 20 APEC members and monitoring organizations came and expressed their appreciation for Vietnam’s early and detailed preparation. They also committed themselves to working closely with Vietnam to make the forthcoming meetings successful.

At this SOM 3, Vietnam will brief other members, discuss and coordinate with them the preparation for the 2017 APEC Economics Leaders’ Week.

Thank you!

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