(VOVworld) - Addressing the 6^th APEC Human Resources Development (HRD) Ministerial Meeting in Hanoi on Saturday, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung noted that HRD is a cross-cutting issue and a decisive factor in maintaining the grouping’s dynamic and rapid growth. He said over the past 25 years, APEC, the world’s economic growth locomotive with 21 member economies, has become a dynamic economic forum, representing 40% of the global population and generating 54% of global GDP.

Cooperation between APEC member countries has brought huge benefit for each member economy, the region and the whole world. He attributed the success story to the grouping’s efforts in developing human resources capable of solving challenges arising from globalization, alongside appropriate education and training policies. APEC’s cooperation programs and initiatives have helped generate more jobs for young people, meeting the requirements of international supply chains and sharpening the competitive edge of its member economies. Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung said: “Deeper globalization and liberalization, together with diverse cooperation forms, create both opportunities and challenges for the world and APEC in particular. With its important role and position, APEC should further strengthen cooperation and experience sharing, especially in developing human resources, encouraging dynamism, creativity and people-to-people connection, considering this a major measure to restructure, restore economic growth, and ensure social security, social welfare and human development.”

The Prime Minister said since joining the grouping more than 15 years ago, Vietnam has actively cooperated with and will continue working closely with other APEC members to promote diverse economic cooperation and integration mechanisms in a flexible and effective manner, in line with the new competitive environment. He expressed his hope the success of the meeting will further bolster effective linkages and cooperation in the region, towards an Asia-Pacific of self-reliance, unity, equitable and sustainable development.