APEC 2017: Vietnamese President's speech at APEC-ABAC dialogue
Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang attended and delivered a speech at the plenary session of the Dialogue between APEC Economic Leaders and the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) in the central city of Da Nang on November 10. Following the full text of the speech.
Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang (middle) (Source: VNA)
Da Nang (VNA) - Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang attended and delivered a speech at the plenary session of the Dialogue between APEC Economic Leaders and the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) in the central city of Da Nang on November 10. Following the full text of the speech.
REMARKS
BY H.E. MR. TRAN DAI QUANG, PRESIDENT OF THE SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF VIET NAM
AT THE PLENARY SESSION OF ABAC DIALOGUE WITH LEADERS
Ladies and gentlemen,
BY H.E. MR. TRAN DAI QUANG, PRESIDENT OF THE SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF VIET NAM
AT THE PLENARY SESSION OF ABAC DIALOGUE WITH LEADERS
Ladies and gentlemen,
The Dialogue between APEC Economic Leaders and the APEC
Business Advisory Council (ABAC) members this year is of significant importance.
It is time for us to find out new ways to sustain the role of APEC as a driver
for economic growth and integration at the global level and in the Asia-Pacific.
It is also timely for us to build a new vision for APEC as the Forum is entering its fourth decade of
development. For that reason, APEC Economic Leaders are ready to dialogue with
the business community ahead of the important Meeting tomorrow. The
recommendations and ideas presented by ABAC will provide an important basis for
us to consider and make decisions on APEC’s future direction.
I highly value ABAC
Report to APEC Economic Leaders as
presented by Mr. Chair of ABAC 2017 and welcome the twenty specific recommendations
of the regional business community. It is my view that all of your recommendations
are very practical and important.
The issues that attract the attention of the business
community, particularly regional economic integration, connectivity, boosting
trade and investment flows, MSMEs, inclusive growth, food security, APEC’s
post-2020 vision, amongst others, are also issues of great concern for APEC
leaders to work out appropriate solutions and practical actions. Here, I wish
to emphasize some specific points as follows:
First, economic integration,
connectivity, trade and investment liberalization have been and will continue
to be the top priorities for APEC cooperation. All APEC member economies are
committed to accelerating the implementation to achieve the Bogor Goals, with
greater focus on services, investment and measures to reduce non-tariff
barriers. APEC will also expedite the implementation of adopted plans, notably
the APEC Connectivity Blueprint, the Supply-Chain Connectivity Framework, the Services
Competitiveness Roadmap. At the same time, APEC need to focus more on emerging
issues, such as cross-border e-commerce, the road map on the internet and
digital economy, amongst others.
At the APEC Economic Leaders’ Retreat tomorrow, we will
discuss the orientations to further expedite the efforts to achieve the Bogor
Goals, connect supply chains, strengthen the multilateral trading system,
promote regional trade agreements and move towards the realization of a Free
Trade Area of the Asia – Pacific (FTAAP).
Second, we
share the business community’s concerns on the need to increase MSMEs’
participation in global markets, improve businesses’ access to finance and
enhance women’s economic empowerment. The greater participation of businesses
in general and women entrepreneurs in particular will inject new impetus to
foster sustainable and inclusive growth. We are committed to developing
effective policy and legal frameworks to create a better environment for the
business community.
Third, your recommendations on accelerating economic, financial and social inclusion,
achieving food and energy security, promoting quality workforces in the digital
age reflect the urgent issues to be addressed to ensure innovative, sustainable
and inclusive growth. Since the beginning of this year, we have instructed APEC
officials at all levels to focus on building long-term cooperation frameworks
for economic, financial and social inclusion, human resources development in
the digital age, food security in response to climate change and rural and urban
development. These issues will also be in the agenda of tomorrow’s Meeting.
Fourth, I
highly value the contributions made by the business community towards the idea
of an APEC post-2020 vision. APEC has been successful for the past three
decades. And the Forum is now at a pivotal juncture. I call on the business
community to continue making active contributions and working with us to
accomplish the task to build a new vision for the APEC Forum in the decades to
come.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Ladies and gentlemen,
We can be proud that APEC has become one of the most
successful cooperation forums in connecting the governments with the business
community. The APEC Business Advisory Council, together with the Pacific
Economic Cooperation Council and APEC Voices of the Future have always been the
companions of APEC throughout the past decades to make joint contribution towards
prosperous development of the Asia-Pacific.
Throughout the APEC Year 2017 in Viet Nam, the business
community has made active contribution to all important APEC’s meetings. Many events
within the framework of APEC Meetings have been organized by businesses,
notably the APEC Start-ups Forum, APEC Public-Private Dialogue on Enhancing
Capacities of MSMEs, APEC Women Entrepreneurs Forum. The business community has
also actively participated and proposed ideas at the discussions and dialogues,
including those on APEC towards 2020 and beyond, inclusive growth, food
security, and sustainable tourism, among many others.
Let us continue to uphold this close and effective
cooperation mechanism. I wish that the business community will continue to be
the government’s companion at this critical juncture and beyond. I firmly
believe that your companionship will provide new impetus to realize APEC’s
ultimate goal for the benefit of people and businesses.
I wish you very fruitful discussions.
Thank you for your attention./.