Gyeongju (VNA) – State President Luong Cuong received John Denton, Secretary-General of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), in Gyeongju city, the Republic of Korea (RoK), on October 30, on the occasion of the 32nd Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders’ Week.
At the meeting, Denton expressed his admiration for Vietnam’s economic development journey as well as the goals and measures it has set for its growth.
Congratulating the Vietnamese Government for taking practical steps to support businesses, especially the establishment of the International Financial Centre in Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang, he affirmed the readiness to cooperate with and assist Vietnam on the development path, particularly in helping Vietnamese enterprises expand globally as the country prepares to host APEC in 2027.
The Secretary-General stated that the ICC operates in 170 countries and has mobilised over 17.5 trillion USD in investment and business capital. He emphasised that it will continue to promote the global development project for enterprises and hopes for active participation from Vietnamese businesses. The project has been implemented in ASEAN, introduced further to APEC, and will soon be presented to the G20 economies, with a hope for cooperation from Vietnamese enterprises along the way.
The ICC looks to be a friend and partner accompanying the development of Vietnamese businesses and participating in the APEC 2027 activities hosted by the country, Denton highlighted.
Appreciating the Secretary-General’s insights and expressing satisfaction with the relationship between the ICC and the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), President Cuong affirmed that Vietnam always values its cooperation with the ICC, the world’s largest business organisation.
He also highly valued the ICC’s role in establishing international trade standards, promoting trade and investment liberalisation, and strengthening the multilateral trading system, while expressing pleasure that it has maintained close cooperation with the VCCI and the Vietnamese business community in improving the business environment, facilitating trade, and enhancing the integration capacity of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
President Cuong noted that in response to current global trade challenges, Vietnam is implementing various adaptive measures, including diversifying markets, developing supporting industries, making the most of new-generation free trade agreements, reforming institutional frameworks, simplifying administrative procedures, improving the investment and business environment, and promoting digital and green transformation to enhance the economy’s resilience.
In this process, he proposed the ICC continue to accompany and support Vietnamese SMEs in enhancing their integration capacity and participating more deeply in global value chains by sharing its tools, standards, and practical experience.
Welcoming the ICC’s commitment to turning its determination and goodwill into action, President Cuong emphasised that Vietnam is ready to be an active and proactive partner with the ICC in regional and global initiatives, contributing to an open, fair, and sustainable international trading system that promotes peace, prosperity, and opportunities for all./.
