2017 APEC Business Advisory Council holds first meeting in Thailand

The first meeting of the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) in 2017 opened in Bangkok, Thailand on February 21, with more than 150 delegates from member economies and ABAC taking part.
 
2017 APEC Business Advisory Council holds first meeting in Thailand ảnh 1Chair of the Senior Officials' Meeting (SOM) APEC 2017 Bui Thanh Son (Photo: VNA)
Bangkok (VNA) – Thefirst meeting of the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) in 2017 opened inBangkok, Thailand on February 21, with more than 150 delegates from membereconomies and ABAC taking part.

Permanent Deputy Foreign Minister BuiThanh Son of Vietnam delivered an opening speech in his role as Chair of theSenior Officials' Meeting (SOM) APEC 2017, saying that the meeting affords hima chance to share Vietnam’s vision and expectations as the APEC hosting countryin 2017.

A decade following the first hostingof APEC Year 2006, Vietnam is proud of hosting the forum again, he said, addingthat the Vietnamese government commits to promoting action-oriented andtransparent cabinet in service of the people and businesses, contributing toAPEC’s common efforts of creating an open business environment for all.

In order to realise the APEC Year2017 theme “Creating new driving force for a common future”, Vietnam hasproposed four priorities for APEC cooperation, including business community’srecommendations sent to APEC leaders regarding quality growth, connectivity, structuralreform, services and the global supply chain.

He also took the occasion to urgeABAC members and APEC business community to join APEC High-Level Week in thecentral city of Da Nang, ABAC Dialogue with Leaders and CEO Summit at thehighest level, saying that their ideas and suggestions will help shape APECpolicies for coming years.

Son expressed wish to partner with thebusiness community, especially ABAC to shape APEC’s practical agenda.

This year, Vietnam wants to acquiremore feedback, ideas and recommendations towards achieving the Bogor Goals andimplementing strategies, comprehensive and action plans adopted by leaders tostrengthen regional connectivity, expand linkages and promoting quality growthand structural reform, he said.

AsAPEC is preparing to enter the fourth decade, it is time to hold practicaldiscussions on its common future and give vision to the Asia-Pacificpartnership for sustainable and inclusive development in the 21st century, he said, hoping for the business community’s active participation inmultilateral dialogues on APEC towards 2020 and subsequent years.

Established in 1989, APEC comprises 21 economies, namely Australia; Brunei;Canada; Chile; China; Hong Kong, China; Indonesia; Japan; the Republic ofKorea; Malaysia; Mexico; New Zealand; Papua New Guinea; Peru; the Philippines;Russia; Singapore; Chinese Taipei; Thailand; the United States; and Vietnam.

Vietnamjoined APEC in 1998, and hosted APEC in 2006.-VNA
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