Delegates to APEC Dialogue on Sustainable Urbanization (Photo: baoxaydung.com.vn)

At the opening of the APEC Dialogue on Sustainable Urbanization organized by Friends of the Chair on Urbanization group, Deputy Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son, Chair of SOM, said the rising role of urbanization in socio-economic development poses great challenges which require a change of approach to management and urban development. Son said Vietnam wants to attract the attention of leaders, managers, business people, and experts of APEC member countries and related international organizations to boost cooperation and create new momentum for sustainable urbanization in line with the UN sustainable development goals until 2030.

Since joining APEC in November 1998, Vietnam has made proactive contributions to the forum. In 2006, the country successfully hosted the APEC Year with the14^th Summit approving the Hanoi Plan of Action on implementing the Bogor goals, measures to improve APEC cooperation efficiency and long-term prospects towards the establishment of the Free Trade Area of Asia-Pacific.