President Truong Tan Sang held bilateral meetings with several leaders of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) member economies in Bali, Indonesia on October 7 on the sidelines of the 21 st APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting.

He spoke highly of Indonesia ’s role as the 2013 APEC Chair and its successful organisation of the forum’s important events since the beginning of this year at a meeting with Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

Indonesia’s success affirms the position of ASEAN in the Asia-Pacific region and the world as well, Sang said.

The two sides agreed to continue close coordination at regional and international forums, particularly ASEAN and the UN.

Vietnam and Indonesia will join other ASEAN member states’ efforts to achieve the formation of the ASEAN Community by 2015, and enhance the grouping’s central role and common voice in issues related to regional security and development, they said.

During the meeting, the two Presidents witnessed the signing of the 2014-2018 action programme on the implementation of the Vietnam-Indonesia Strategic Partnership.

They expressed their belief that this important document will develop the two countries’ strategic partnership, which was established in June this year, in an intensive, practical and effective manner, bringing practical benefits to both peoples as well as contributing to regional peace, stability, cooperation and prosperous development.

The action programme includes major orientations and specific objectives to realise the bilateral strategic partnership in such fields as politics, defence-security, economic development, energy, agro-forestry-fishery, sea-related issues, transport, culture-sports-tourism, and cooperation at regional and international forums.

At the meeting with Brunei Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, President Sang congratulated Brunei on its successes as the ASEAN Chair, saying that they have contributed to strengthening solidarity and cooperation within ASEAN, and between the bloc and its partners as well as improving ASEAN’s international prestige and position.

The two sides agreed to enhance the bloc’s united efforts to build the ASEAN Community by 2015 and promote the central role of the association in the regional architecture.

They emphasised the need to ensure the serious implementation of the ASEAN Declaration on Six-Point Principles and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and work towards the early conclusion of a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) between ASEAN and China .

The two sides discussed major orientations to promote bilateral cooperation in economics, trade, investment, agriculture, seafood, energy, oil and gas, and education-training, while closely coordinating in negotiations for the Trans-Pacific Economic Partnership Agreement (TPP).

Speaking at a discussion with leaders of nearly 20 groups and companies representing the US Business Coalition at APEC, the Vietnamese President spoke highly of the US business community’s effective operations in Vietnam , which he said have actively contributed to bilateral relations, especially after the two countries established their comprehensive partnership.

He affirmed Vietnam’s efforts to restructure the economy and create a favourable environment for foreign investors, including those from the US .

The Vietnamese State and Government are implementing a number of measures to boost the comprehensive partnership between the two nations, especially in economics, trade and investment, he added.

Representatives of the US business community appreciated Vietnam’s economic restructuring and growth model renovation efforts, saying that they have helped increase trust among US businesses and create conditions for them to expand their operations in the country.

They expressed belief in the prospects of the Vietnamese economy, especially its role in speeding up the TPP negotiations.

President Sang applauded the US Department of Commerce’s recent decision to remove anti-dumping and anti-subsidy duties on Vietnam ’s frozen warm water shrimp. He said he hopes that US businesses will hurry their government to remove trade barriers on Vietnamese goods in line with the spirit of the Comprehensive Partnership and TPP negotiations.

Also within the framework of APEC 21, President Sang and other APEC leaders attended a plenary session and a dialogue with the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC), which is made up of the heads of the leading groups in the region and the world.

The dialogue discussed the facilitation of trade and investment, the financial market, small- and medium-sized enterprises, the strengthening of the efficiency of supply chains, sustainable development, food and energy security.

The leaders applauded businesses’ proposal to further enhance the partnership between APEC and ABAC, thus bringing practical benefits to the regional business community and maintaining the dynamism and vitality of the Asia-Pacific economy.-VNA