The 21st APEC Summit in Bali, Indonesia, has approved Vietnam’s bid to host the 25th APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting in 2017, showing their trust in Vietnam’s rising position globally. 

This is the second time Vietnam will host the event, following the first in 2006.

In his address at the Bali summit, President Truong Tan Sang noted the hosting demonstrates Vietnam’s resolve to realise its foreign policy of active international integration, its long-term vision for Asia and the Pacific, as well as its desire to make a responsible contribution to regional issues.

He laid a strong emphasis on the dynamic development of the Asia-Pacific region, describing it as the global growth locomotive that houses most strategic and leading trade-economic partners of Vietnam.

He said actively joining and responsibly contributing to ASEAN, APEC and other cooperation mechanisms have enabled Vietnam to create a stable and peaceful environment and make full use of international resources for national development.

The integration process has also brought practical benefits to Vietnamese localities, business communities and people.

By hosting the 25th APEC Summit in 2017, he said Vietnam has a valuable chance to introduce the international community to a new and dynamic nation with huge potential for development.

This is also a chance for Vietnamese people to promote friendship with international friends, and for partners, businesses, and regional and international organisations to deepen their understanding of Vietnam’s glorious history, a traditional culture imbued with national identity, and specialities of all localities across the country.

President Sang stressed with self-confidence and creativity Vietnam will stand firm on its path to comprehensive integration.

APEC connectivity framework  

Addressing an APEC working session on October 8, President Sang welcomed Indonesia’s APEC connectivity framework initiative, considering it the grouping’s first overall and long-term vision of connectivity to help attain the Bogor Goals and connect regional economies.

He proposed the APEC leaders assign relevant ministries to soon carry out the connectivity framework, with a focus on such practical areas as investment, infrastructure, transportation, information technology, labour, education, tourism, response to emergencies, and human resource development.

Sang also voiced his support for APEC’s long-term plan on development and investment in infrastructure, and proposed the plan should be put in place soon to optimise the involvement of the private sector in infrastructure development.

He said establishing connectivity networks is a long-term process, requiring the close coordination between economies and between cooperation mechanisms in the sub-regions, regions and inter-regions, citing the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity as an example.

He called on APEC to support ASEAN’s efforts to build a unified economic community by 2015, implement infrastructure projects, connect supply chains, facilitate trade, respond to global challenges and emergencies, maintain food security, and develop small- and medium-sized enterprises.

President Sang noted Vietnam prioritises strengthening linkages with other countries in the region, including within the Greater Mekong Subregion and the East-West Economic Corridor, so as to promote Southeast Asia’s potential and connect economies in the Asia-pacific region.

(VOV)