(VOVworld) – The official welcoming ceremony for leaders attending the 23rd APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting was held in Manila on Wednesday. Philippines President Benigno Aquino presided over the ceremony. President Truong Tan Sang and other APEC leaders attended a dialogue with members of the APEC Business Advisory Council.
President Sang, the Prime Minister of New Zealand John Key, the Vice President of Indonesia Jusuf Kalla, and US Trade Representative Michael Froman co-chaired a dialogue with members of the APEC Business Advisory Council. They discussed ways to increase public-private partnerships to boost trade and investment facilitation, sustainable and inclusive growth, and service development. President Sang said Vietnam deemed it important to implement the Bogor goal on trade and investment liberalization, stressing Vietnam’s efforts to ensure equal growth for everyone, particularly vulnerable groups and small and medium-sized businesses.
President Truong Tan Sang attended the first unofficial dialogues of APEC leaders with the Pacific Alliance, a Latin American trade bloc composed of Peru, Mexico, Chile and Colombia. The dialogue was initiated by the Philippines. In his address, President Sang said Vietnam supported the increased coordination between APEC and the Pacific Alliance. Sang said Vietnam was ready to work with other APEC members to strengthen cooperation with other multilateral mechanisms including the Pacific Alliance and the ASEAN Community. The Vietnamese President suggested a number of potential areas for bilateral cooperation.
That day, President Sang, his wife and the Vietnamese delegation also attended a banquet to welcome APEC leaders and their wives hosted by Philippine President Benigno Aquino.