President Vo Van Thuong and his wife leave Hanoi for the US to attend the APEC Economic Leaders' Week. (photo: Thong Nhat/ VNA)

Vietnam has high regard for the Asia-Pacific region and the APEC Forum. Continuing the cooperation achievements of the past 25 years, Vietnam will contribute substantially and effectively to APEC Economic Leaders’ Week.

Vietnam’s effective contributions during 25 years of APEC membership

Since joining APEC in 1998, Vietnam has made responsible and effective contributions to all cooperative areas of APEC’s development.

Vietnam is one of the few economies entrusted and supported by members to host APEC Year twice, in 2006 and 2017.

The APEC Economic Leaders’ Week held in Hanoi in 2006 and Da Nang in 2017 were both considered extremely successful, achieving strategic results for the APEC Forum and enhancing economic cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region.

Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Minh Hang said: “During APEC Year 2006, Vietnam created the Hanoi Action Program to implement the Bogor goals on trade and investment liberalization. In 2017, Vietnam initiated a post-2020 vision for APEC and established the APEC Vision Group. This demonstrates Vietnam's long-term, comprehensive approach which is highly appreciated by other APEC members and underlines the Joint Statement on the Putrajaya Vision to 2040, which identifies APEC's strategic directions, goals, and cooperation priorities in the new period.”

Over the past 25 years, Vietnam has been one of the most active members in proposing cooperative initiatives and projects within the APEC framework, with nearly 150 projects spanning human resource development, e-commerce promotion, food security, women's economic empowerment, rural and urban development, and climate change.

Vietnam plays an executive role in implementing APEC cooperation programs via its important positions in the Forum.

Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Minh Hang (Photo: MoFA)

Accompanying APEC’s recovery, sustainable development

This year's APEC Economic Leaders’ Week takes place in the context of dramatic changes in the global economy. Risks and traditional and non-traditional security challenges are intertwined with opportunities for cooperation and development. It’s time for APEC members to strengthen dialogue and cooperation and turn challenges into opportunities for sustainable recovery and development.

Given the importance of this year's APEC Summit and Vietnam-US relations continuing to develop strongly with the establishment of a comprehensive strategic partnership, President Thuong's attendance at the APEC Economic Leaders’ Week and engagement in bilateral activities in the US are of great significance.

Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Minh Hang said: “The Vietnamese President will join other APEC leaders to discuss key global and regional economic issues, set out directions for cooperation in trade, investment, science, technology, innovation, and many other fields. Vietnam will work with other members to promote a spirit of dialogue, construction, responsibility, multilateralism, cooperation, and joint action for regional sustainable development and prosperity.”

President Thuong will attend and address the APEC CEO Summit, which expects 2,000 global and Asia-Pacific firms to participate. Mr. Thuong will engage in bilateral activities with US leaders and partners, to strengthen the partnership between the two countries in the spirit of their comprehensive strategic partnership, particularly in the fields of education, training, science, technology, innovation and locality-to-locality connectivity.

Implementing the foreign policy of being a friend, a reliable partner, and a responsible member of the international community over the past 25 years, Vietnam has participated in APEC in an active, responsible manner and made significant contributions to the development of APEC.

Vietnam's contributions have enhanced its position and reputation in the international arena. Vietnam has taken full advantage of opportunities and resources from APEC cooperation and regional economic connectivity for national socio-economic development.