Hanoi (VNA) – Senior officials from Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) member economies gathered at an informal meeting in Hanoi on December 9 to discuss priorities for the APEC Year in 2017.
Deputy Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son, Chairman of the Senior Officials' Meeting, presided over the event.
The Informal Senior Officials Meeting is divided into three sessions, focusing discussion on implementing agreements reached by the involved parties in Peru; defining the theme and priorities for APEC 2017; and plans for APEC 2017.
A press conference on APEC 2017 is scheduled to take place the same day to showcase Vietnam’s preparation for the event, set to be hosted in the country next year.
Vietnam has prepared for hosting the APEC 2017 since 2013, when it was given the task at the summit in Indonesia.
Vietnam joined APEC in 1998, an important milestone for the country in implementing its external policy of diversification and multilateralisation.
The country successfully hosted APEC 14 in 2006, which laid a foundation for the Asia-Pacific Free Trade areas and adopted the Hanoi Action Plan to implement the Bogor goals and initiatives to improve co-operation within APEC.
Vietnam proposed the theme of APEC 2017 as “Creating new driving force for a common future” with priorities concentrating on economic growth, regional integration, agriculture, food, innovation and small-scale businesses.
Established in 1989, APEC comprises 21 economies, including Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, the Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, the US and Vietnam./.
Deputy Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son, Chairman of the Senior Officials' Meeting, presided over the event.
The Informal Senior Officials Meeting is divided into three sessions, focusing discussion on implementing agreements reached by the involved parties in Peru; defining the theme and priorities for APEC 2017; and plans for APEC 2017.
A press conference on APEC 2017 is scheduled to take place the same day to showcase Vietnam’s preparation for the event, set to be hosted in the country next year.
Vietnam has prepared for hosting the APEC 2017 since 2013, when it was given the task at the summit in Indonesia.
Vietnam joined APEC in 1998, an important milestone for the country in implementing its external policy of diversification and multilateralisation.
The country successfully hosted APEC 14 in 2006, which laid a foundation for the Asia-Pacific Free Trade areas and adopted the Hanoi Action Plan to implement the Bogor goals and initiatives to improve co-operation within APEC.
Vietnam proposed the theme of APEC 2017 as “Creating new driving force for a common future” with priorities concentrating on economic growth, regional integration, agriculture, food, innovation and small-scale businesses.
Established in 1989, APEC comprises 21 economies, including Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, the Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, the US and Vietnam./.