President Truong Tan Sang made the statement at the October 7 first working session of the 21st APEC Summit on the organization’s role in strengthening the multilateral trade system in the current global economy. 

As one of the leaders to be invited to deliver an introductory speech at this first session, President Sang underscored APEC’s prime urgent task of pushing for a concrete agreement to be reached at the World Trade Organisation Ministerial Meeting in December aiming to create a breakthrough for the Doha talks and a driving force for the global economy’s growth to bounce back and develop stably.

He reiterated Vietnam’s support to flexible efforts for a balanced Bali package, in which development priority is given to special, different treatments for developing and under-developing countries.

President Sang also called for APEC to be more radical in carrying out the Bogor goals and beefing up cooperation as the face of the global economy and trade rapidly changes.

APEC also needs to garner strong support for the reform of economic governance and global trade towards equality, democracy, civilization and efficiency, promoting the role of both developing and emerging economies, he said.

President Sang officially announced that Vietnam will host the 25th APEC Summit in 2017, which received strong support and high appreciation from all APEC member economies and will be put on this year’s summit declaration.

This will be the second time Vietnam has been entitled to host an APEC summit.

During the session, 21 APEC economic leaders reached a statement showing APEC’s political determination and strong support for pushing up the World Trade Organisation Ministers’ Meeting to approve a new agreement (Bali package) on development issues, agriculture and trade facilitation.

They also consented to fulfil the Bogor goals by 2020 in joint efforts to form a resilient, cohesive, fair and sustainable Asia-Pacific.

The same day, President Sang and other APEC leaders attended a banquet and a special arts performance hosted by the Indonesian President.

(VOV)