The Vietnamese delegation, led by President Truong Tan Sang, has worked closely with the host Indonesia and other ASEAN members to actively participate in and make remarkable contributions to the 21 st Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders’ Meeting, said Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh on October 8.
Foreign Minister Minh made the remarks at an interview granted for the press following conclusion of the 21 st APEC Leaders’ Meeting that took place in Bali Island on October 7-8.
According to FM Minh, President Sang officially affirmed that Vietnam will host the 2017 APEC Leaders’ Meeting and the forum’s important activities – a decision received the strong support of APEC economic members, confirming international friends’ high appreciation to Vietnam ’s role and prestige.
President Sang was invited to deliver an introductory speech at the first session on “APEC’s role in strengthening the multilateral trading system in the current global economic situation”, in which he proposed to create an impulse for economic connection and prioritise the implementation of Bogo goal, and stressed the need to take action and show necessary flexibility so that the upcoming WTO Ministerial Meeting will achieve specific outcomes.
The FM further said that many APEC member economies spoke highly of Vietnam ’s role as one of the major food producers and suppliers in the world, welcoming the country’s proposals which contribute to cooperation for sustainable development attached to equality.
Vietnam also suggested that cooperation in ensuring security in food, water resources and energy become a priority in APEC related mechanisms while strengthening cooperation in protecting water resources, emergency response and search and rescue at sea, FM Minh said.
From its experience in implementing ASEAN connectivity, Vietnam asked for the acceleration of the implementation of new APEC orientation on connectivity and strengthening APEC collaboration with sub-region connection programmes, the FM noted.
The country also requested APEC to actively support the goal of building an ASEAN Economic Community by 2015, collaborate in implementing ASEAN projects on infrastructure, supply chain connectivity and Mekong sub-region programmes designated to connect and narrow the development gaps, Minh added.
Regarding the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) high-level meeting which was also held in Bali on October 8, the FM said that APEC member economies highly valued Vietnam’s efforts and contributions to the negotiation process and the meeting’s outcomes in a bid to conclude the negotiations as scheduled.
He further said that during his stay in Bali, President Sang had bilateral meetings with heads of state and leaders of APEC member economies, including P residents of Indonesia, China, Russia and Peru, Sultan of Brunei, Head of the US delegation, and the Prime Ministers of Japan, Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea.
The bilateral meetings achieved specific results, contributing to deepening Vietnam’s relations with APEC member economies and its partners in the region, Minh said.
The FM noted that leaders of Vietnam and other member economies agreed upon measures to realise and strengthen cooperation, especially their strategic partnership or comprehensive partnership.
Leaders of member economies and cooperation executives in their meetings with President Sang voiced their support and pledged to stand side by side with Vietnam in its efforts to restructure the economy and comprehensively integrate into international community, Minh said.
These member economies spoked highly of Vietnam’s positive and active contributions to joint efforts to maintain peace, stability and strengthen economic cooperation and linkages in the region and in the world while agreeing to enhance collaboration and mutual support at important multilateral forums, he added.
President Truong Tan Sang arrived in Hanoi on October 8, successfully wrapping up his attendance to the two-day 21st APEC Leaders Meeting in Bali, Indonesia.-VNA
