National Committee for APEC 2017 debuts

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung attended the debut of the National Committee for activities of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in 2017 (APEC 2017) in Hanoi on July 21.
Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung attended the debut of the NationalCommittee for activities of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forumin 2017 (APEC 2017) in Hanoi on July 21.

TheGovernment leader stressed that APEC is an important economiccooperation mechanism for Vietnam and the Asia-Pacific region.

Hosting APEC 2017 events is a new step forward in Vietnam’s activeinternational integration process and to enhance its multilateraldiplomacy, contributing to boosting socio-economic development andpromoting the country’s image, he said, adding that this will also offerVietnam a chance to intensify its bilateral relations with APECpartners.

He asked committee members to makeevery effort to ensure the successful organization of events under theAPEC framework throughout the year while requesting the committeeestablish five sub-committees and a Secretariat and put them intooperation as soon as possible to carry out specific agendas.

The PM also asked for the establishment of a communication campaignon APEC 2017 activities to promote Vietnam’s land and people as well asits potential and advantages for economic development.

Immediately after the debut ceremony, Deputy Prime Minister andForeign Minister Pham Binh Minh, who is the national committee’sDirector, chaired the committee’s first plenary meeting to specify majortasks and working plans for 2015 and beyond in preparation for the APEC2017.

He called for ideas and initiatives forAPEC 2017 while asking agencies and localities involved to prepareinfrastructure facilities and strengthen the participation of thebusiness community in APEC.

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

Vietnam joinedthe forum in November 1998 and hosted APEC 2006 and the 6th APEC HumanResources Development Ministerial Meeting in September 2014.-VNA

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