President requests absolute security for APEC 2017 events

 

Hanoi (VNA) – President Tran Dai Quang has requested the Ministries of National Defence and Public Security not to let any mistake happen during the APEC Economic Leaders’ Week scheduled to take place in the central city of Da Nang from November 6-11.

At a working session with officials of the two ministries and relevant offices in Hanoi on October 18, President Quang stressed that the APEC Economic Leaders’ Week is the most important event of the APEC Year 2017 with the participation of heads of state and over 10,000 delegates from 21 APEC economies as well as representatives from both domestic and foreign enterprises and press agencies.

He noted that the regional and global political-security situations have seen complicated and unpredictable developments with a series of armed, racial and religious conflicts, terrorism activities and territorial disputes, while Southeast Asia have also witnessed new instabilities, especially those related to terrorism and sovereignty disputes.

Together with “peaceful evolution” strategies and sabotage plots by hostile forces and criminal activities, these are latent threats to security and order of the APEC Economic Leaders’ Week, he said.

The State leader asked the Ministries of National Defence and Public Security, the security-health subcommittee and localities involved to review and complete their plans to safeguard the meeting and backup schemes to deal with arising problems.

It is necessary for relevant forces, agencies and localities to coordinate closely and assign specific tasks for each unit in order to avoid being on the defensive in all circumstances, he stressed.

President Quang requested concerned forces to ensure absolute security for heads of state, heads of delegations, ministers and delegates attending the event, with the priority given to preventing terrorism, fire and explosion, and ensuring traffic safety, food safety and hygiene.

Deputy Minister of Public Security Bui Van Nam said since the end of 2016, the ministry has coordinated with other relevant agencies in ensuring security and safety for six senior officials’ meetings, six ministerial meetings and hundreds of meetings held in eight provinces and cities across the nation.

Established in 1989, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Forum comprises Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, China, Hong Kong (China), Indonesia, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, the Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Chinese Taipei, Thailand, the US and Vietnam.-VNA