President Vo Van Thuong (second row, fourth from right) and other leaders at the APEC Economic Leaders’ Week 2023 in San Francisco (Photo: VNA) Talkingto the press following President Vo Van Thuong’s trip to the US to attend the weekfrom November 14 to 17 in San Francisco, Son said the APEC Economic Leaders’ Week 2023 held special significance as it marked 25 years since Vietnam becamea member of APEC. President Thuong and the high-ranking delegation of Vietnamattended activities of the week and made important contributions to its success.
First, the Vietnamese leader raised ideas and proposals aimedat responding to urgent issues of the world economy, particularly the requirementfor a new mindset that is inclusive, harmonious, and humane.
He also gaveconcrete suggestions about the mission and tasks of APEC in the new period tomake adaptation and continue to gain success. They included maintaining andconsolidating the important achievements in trade and investment liberalisationand facilitation in Asia-Pacific and the world, cooperating to build aresilient region and resilient economies ready to respond to challenges, and creatinga cooperation framework to assist member economies to capitalise on developmentopportunities and boost growth impetuses.
Those ideasand proposals were highly valued by other leaders and the business communityand shown in the meeting’s document, thereby opening up new directions for APECcooperation, the Foreign Minister noted.
Second, member economies voicedtheir support for Vietnam’s proposal to host APEC in 2027. Amid complex developmentsin the world and the region, this proposal affirmed Vietnam’s commitment tomultilateralism, the Asia-Pacific region in general, and the APEC forum inparticular. It also reflected the country’s determination to implement thepolicy of proactive, active, comprehensive, and intensive integration into theworld, and being a friend, a trustworthy partner, and a responsible member ofthe international community, helping to successfully carry out the resolution ofthe 13th National Party Congress.
All APEC members appreciatedVietnam’s highly practical and constructive contributions to APEC over the lastmore than two decades, and affirmed their trust in its APEC chairmanship in2027, Son went on.
Third, headded, representatives of Vietnamese ministries and sectors actively took partin and coordinated with host the US and other members during the preparationfor and discussions during the week to generate the best possible results forall members.
On thisoccasion, President Thuong engaged in many meetings with leaders of other APECeconomies and guests. At those events, APEC leaders and guests spoke highly ofVietnam’s stature and role and agreed to increase mutual visits, step up cooperationin politics - diplomacy, economy - trade, science - technology, education -training, locality-to-locality ties, and people-to-people exchanges, andsupport each other at regional and international forums.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son (Photo: VNA) The President’s speech aboutthe world situation, Vietnam’s foreign policy, and the Vietnam - US relationsat the Council on Foreign Relations received highevaluation from the US side, according to Minister Son.
At the activities, both sides agreed to make efforts to continueimplementing the agreements reached between the two countries’ leaders duringthe recent State visit to Vietnam by US President Biden at the invitation ofParty General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and the joint statement on the elevationof bilateral relations to the comprehensive strategic partnership. They agreedto focus on economy, trade and investment, with the US soon granting the marketeconomy status to Vietnam; consider science - technology and innovation asbreakthrough cooperation fields; press on with cooperation in education - training,including the training of high-quality human resources; and work together inclimate change response.
US enterprises continuedto show their high interest in the Vietnamese market and pledged to keepexpanding investment and business activities in Vietnam, especially in thefields of high technology, infrastructure, and energy. They also expressedtheir readiness to help the country with manpower training to create a skillfulworkforce to serve digital transformation and green transition, the official noted.
He said the trip by PresidentThuong and the high-ranking delegation of Vietnam to attend the APEC EconomicLeaders’ Week and bilateral activities in the US was successful and a practicalmove to carry out the foreign policy devised at the 13th NationalParty Congress.
Via the State leader’s remarksand activities, Vietnam conveyed important messages about its viewpoint on andapproach to the challenges facing the world and the region, along with theimplementation of its foreign policy.
Meanwhile, the hosting ofAPEC for the third time, in 2027, will once again demonstrate the country’sstrategic vision on the Asia-Pacific and also be a vivid illustration of APECmembers and the international community’s trust in Vietnam’s role and stature inthe international arena, the Foreign Minister added./.
VNA
