Vietnamese delegation at the SOM-1(Source: VNA) The event attracted more than1,900 delegates from 21 member economies, representatives from the PacificEconomic Cooperation Council, the APEC Business Advisory Council, regional andglobal organisations, and businesses.
It was the first plenary meeting ofAPEC in 2017 with nearly 60 sessions, seminars and dialogues of 38 APECcommittees and working groups.
Participants agreed to maintainAPEC’s leading role in connecting economies and addressing global challengesvia accelerating the fulfillment of the Bogor Goals by 2020, increasing opentrade and investment in the region, and continuing to implement APEC’s long-termcooperation strategies and plans.
They were highly unanimous onfour priorities of the APEC Year 2017, namely promoting sustainable, innovativeand inclusive growth; deepening regional economic integration; strengtheningmicro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs)’ competitiveness andinnovation in the digital age; and enhancing food security and sustainableagriculture in response to climate change.
They reviewed the progress andefficiency of cooperation initiatives and projects and proposed a series of newmeasures training young scientists, promoting technological transfer andapplication to mitigate disaster risks, facilitating entrepreneurs’ travellingin the region and legal trade in wood products, and strengthening supply chainconnectivity towards sustainable growth.
On the occasion, four APECcommittees and 38 out of 53 APEC working groups adopted their respective focusesof cooperation.
As the host of the APEC 2017,Vietnam made practical contributions to common concerns regarding regionaleconomic connectivity, support for MSMEs in joining the global supply chain,human resources development and response to emergencies and natural disasters,among others.
Delegates also approved the APECYear 2017 agenda, including SOMs, ministerial meetings and the APEC High-LevelWeek slated for November in the central city of Da Nang.
During the SOM-1 and relatedmeetings, the authorities of Khanh Hoa province organised a number ofcultural-art activities to introduce the culture of Vietnam and the southcentral region in particular, including an exhibition in venues of APECmeetings that showcased 30 photos of Nha Trang scenic landscapes, as well as culturaland folk art festivals.
A book, DVD and a clip featuring NhaTrang and Khanh Hoa in general were also presented to delegates as gifts.-VNA
VNA
