At the invitation of President of the United States of America Joe Biden, President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam Vo Van Thuong and his wife, along with a high-ranking Vietnamese delegation, will attend the 2023 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit Week and conduct bilateral activities in the United States from November 14 to 17, 2023.
On this occasion, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Hang gave an interview to the press before the APEC 2023 Summit Week to take place in San Francisco, USA.
PV : The APEC Summit Week will take place from November 14-17, 2023 in San Francisco, USA , marking 25 years of Vietnam's participation in APEC. Could you please share with us about Vietnam's contributions to the Forum in recent times?
Deputy Minister Nguyen Minh Hang: Looking back at the 25-year journey of participating in APEC, we can affirm that the decision to join APEC in 1998 was a strategic decision in the country's international economic integration, laying the foundation for global integration and contributing to the development of Vietnam as well as the region.
Over the past 25 years, Vietnam has made active, responsible and effective contributions to all areas of cooperation, leaving many important marks in the APEC process. Three outstanding marks can be highlighted:
Firstly, Vietnam is one of the few economies that has been trusted by members to host APEC years twice in 2006 and 2017.
Under the chairmanship of Vietnam, the two APEC Summits in Hanoi in 2006 and Da Nang in 2017 were both highly successful, achieving important results and having strategic significance for the APEC Forum as well as economic cooperation and linkages in the Asia-Pacific region.
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Hang. Photo: BNG
At APEC 2006, we made our mark with the Hanoi Action Plan to realize the Bogor Goals on trade and investment liberalization; for the first time APEC adopted the idea of forming an Asia-Pacific Free Trade Area, the overall orientation for APEC reform.
In 2017, we proposed the initiative to build a new vision for APEC after 2020 and established the APEC Vision Group. This is the result of Vietnam's long-term, comprehensive approach, which is supported and highly appreciated by members, thereby creating the foundation for APEC to adopt the Joint Statement on Putrajaya Vision to 2040, identifying APEC's strategic orientations, goals and cooperation priorities in the new period.
Second, Vietnam is one of the most active members in proposing initiatives and cooperation projects, with nearly 150 projects, in areas ranging from human resource development, promoting e-commerce, food security, enhancing women's economic empowerment to rural and urban development, ocean waste, responding to climate change, etc.
These initiatives and projects on the one hand promote APEC cooperation in accordance with the interests and concerns of members, while at the same time effectively serving Vietnam's socio-economic development goals.
Third, we have affirmed our role in managing and promoting the implementation of APEC cooperation programs by taking on important positions in the Forum's mechanisms.
Notable roles include Executive Director of the APEC Secretariat, Chair of the ASEAN Group in APEC, Chair/Vice Chair of many important committees and working groups of the Forum. Vietnamese enterprises also contribute and actively participate in the APEC Business Advisory Council and the APEC Business Summit.
Looking back over the past 25 years, closely following the Party's foreign policy, implementing the policy that Vietnam is a friend, a reliable partner and a responsible member of the international community, we have participated in APEC in a proactive, positive and responsible manner and have made many contributions to the development of the APEC Forum.
The success of APEC 2006 and APEC 2017, along with other important contributions of Vietnam at the Forum, has contributed to enhancing the country's role, position and prestige in the international arena, making the most of opportunities and resources from APEC cooperation and regional economic cooperation and linkage mechanisms to serve the country's socio-economic development.
PV : Could you please tell us about the significance and discussion content at the 30th APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting, which will take place on November 16-17?
Deputy Minister Nguyen Minh Hang: APEC is currently the leading economic cooperation and linkage mechanism in the Asia-Pacific region, accounting for 38% of the population, 62% of GDP and nearly 50% of world trade. This year's Summit is of great significance, reflected in two aspects:
Firstly , this year's Summit marks exactly 30 years since the first APEC Summit, also held in the United States. At that time, the previous Leaders agreed on a common vision of an Asia-Pacific economic community for the stability, security and prosperity of the people.
Second, this year's conference takes place in the context of profound changes in the world economic situation and international and regional economic linkages; risks and challenges are intertwined with great opportunities for cooperation and development; traditional and non-traditional security challenges are evolving in a complex manner.
Therefore, this is a moment that requires APEC members to enhance dialogue and cooperation, turning challenges into opportunities for recovery and sustainable development.
With that meaning and under the theme " Creating a resilient and sustainable future for all ", this Conference will focus on evaluating the results of APEC cooperation over the past 30 years, summarizing successes, lessons, and values for regional cooperation, thereby determining cooperation orientations in the new period with the goal of APEC continuing to affirm its role as the leading forum for economic integration and cooperation, contributing to peace, cooperation, and development of the region and the world.
The Leaders will also discuss major issues facing the world and regional economies today, especially promoting trade and investment cooperation, sustainable and inclusive growth, enhancing regional economic connectivity and linkages, thereby promoting the trend of dialogue and cooperation, and contributing to the sustainable development and prosperity of the region.
PV : How does Vietnam's participation at this year's High-Level Week contribute to the overall success of the Conferences, Madam?
Deputy Minister Nguyen Minh Hang: At the invitation of US President Joe Biden, President Vo Van Thuong and his wife will join the Vietnamese high-ranking delegation to attend the APEC 2023 Summit Week and combine bilateral activities in the United States, from November 14-17, 2023.
Given the special significance of this year's APEC Summit and in the context of the Vietnam-US relationship continuing to develop strongly in recent times with the two countries establishing a comprehensive strategic partnership framework, the President's visit to attend the APEC Summit and bilateral activities in the US is of great significance.
The President will join APEC leaders in discussing key issues for the world and regional economy, and set out directions for cooperation in trade, investment, science and technology, innovation and many other areas.
Vietnam will work with members to promote the spirit of dialogue, construction, responsibility, uphold multilateralism, cooperation and joint action for sustainable development and prosperity of the region.
The President will attend, deliver a speech and hold many working sessions at the APEC Business Summit. This is the largest event of the business community in the region with the participation of more than 2,000 leaders of leading corporations in the world and the Asia-Pacific region.
Here, the President will convey a strong message to the business community to join hands to contribute, overcome challenges in the current period and take advantage of opportunities to promote sustainable development of the region and each economy, including Vietnam.
With the United States, the President's activities at the APEC Summit and bilateral activities with senior leaders and US partners, especially in California, will continue to promote bilateral relations in the spirit of the recent Joint Statement on establishing the Vietnam-US Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, especially in the fields of education and training, science and technology, innovation and local connectivity.
It can be affirmed that the State President's working trip to attend the 30th APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting combined with bilateral activities in the United States is one of the important activities in the 2023 foreign affairs program of the Party and State leaders, thereby continuing to maintain and consolidate the peaceful, stable foreign affairs situation, favorable for the country's development.
Thank you, Deputy Minister!
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