Hanoi (VNA) – Since Vietnam
joined the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum in 1998, the forum
has become an important force supporting the country’s economic reform and restructuring,
growth model shift and global economic integration, including the entry to the
World Trade Organisation.
The statement was made by Vice Chairman of
the National Committee on APEC 2017 and Standing Deputy Foreign Minister Bui Thanh
Son during a recent interview with Vietnam News Agency ahead of the APEC
Economic Leaders’ Meeting slated for November in the central city of Da Nang.
Son said Vietnam’s membership of APEC has
contributed to the diversification and multilateralisation of international
relations and the deepening of Vietnam’s bilateral ties, thus strengthening a
peaceful and cooperative environment favourable for the country’s development.
Among Vietnam’s 25 strategic and comprehensive partners, 13 are APEC members.
The admission has also helped strengthen
internal power while boosting trade, investment and tourism with APEC partners.
The bloc now accounts for 75 percent of trade, 78 percent of foreign direct
investment and 79 percent of total tourist arrivals in Vietnam.
Vietnam’s involvement in dealing with APEC’s
common concerns on economic growth and connectivity has improved its image as a
country of innovation, dynamism and integration, empowering the country in the
region and the world.
According to the Deputy FM, as host of the
APEC Year 2017, one of Vietnam’s successes is to promote consensus among
members on the theme and four priorities of APEC Year 2017 as well as upholding
commitment to open trade and investment.
As the host country, Vietnam has pushed forward
result-oriented collaboration among APEC members via building specific initiatives,
focusing on fields that directly benefit the business community and the people,
such as human resources development in the digital era, sustainable tourism, sustainable
small- and medium-sized enterprises, urban and rural development, food
security, start-up facilitation, and women in the economy.
Member economies also hailed Vietnam’s
initiative to promote inclusive economic, financial and social development and
preparations for building APEC’s future after 2020.
He added that Vietnam together with APEC
economies has generated new momentum for regional growth and connectivity by
helping micro and small enterprises tap opportunities in the fourth industrial
revolution, training workers in new skills to seek jobs in a digital era,
ensuring food security amid climate change, and assisting women and vulnerable
groups in economic development.
Vietnam also contributed to updating the
content of cooperation in a number of traditional fields this year in response
to latest developments, which helps improve APEC’s adaptability in a changing world,
according to Deputy Minister Son.
With 2017 said to be one of the most
difficult years for multilateral cooperation mechanisms and APEC is no
exception, Vietnam has been able to effectively use principles of consensus, voluntary,
non-binding, and mutually-beneficial cooperation to maintain the trend of
cooperation, connectivity, and reach consensus on partnerships in many sectors.
Activities hosted by Vietnam have made
important contributions to raising APEC’s role and position in the evolving
regional architecture, he said.-VNA