Deputy PM urges specific plans for APEC 2017 activities

Hanoi (VNA) – Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh has urged ministries, agencies and localities to promptly complete specific organisational plans for major activities for APEC which is to be hosted by Vietnam in 2017.

The official made the request at the fifth session of the National Committee for APEC 2017 in Hanoi on June 28 to review preparations over the first half and set forth tasks for the remaining months of this year.

Vietnam will officially assume the APEC host, once it has passed from Peru in the next 6 months, Deputy PM Minh, who chairs the committee, noted, requesting greater efforts in preparations.

The effective coordination between ministries and agencies, and localities is the key to ensuring the progress and quality of the work across many fields, the Deputy PM stressed.

The first job is to identify major jobs to do and problems hindering the preparation work in order to have timely countermeasures, he said.

With nearly 200 activities to be organised across the country, APEC 2017 will be the important multi-lateral external event to affirm the Party and State policy on promoting international integration and multilateral external relations, contributing to elevating Vietnam’s position in the world arena in the new situation.

APEC 2017 will also offer an opportunity for Vietnam to enhance its economic, trade and investment ties with APEC member economies and promote the country’s image.

Established in November 1989, APEC now comprises 21 economies, representing around 39 percent of the world’s population, 57 percent of total global GDP and 47 percent of international trade.

Vietnam joined the forum in November 1998 and successfully hosted the 2006 APEC and the 6th APEC Human Resources Development Ministerial Meeting in 2014.

The National Committee was set up in mid-2015 and consists of five sub-committees in charge of content, logistics, health and security, communications and protocol preparations for APEC 2017.-VNA