Ahead of President Luong Cuong's official visit to the Republic of Chile, the Republic of Peru and his participation in the APEC 2024 Summit Week, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Hang gave press interviews on related issues.
Could you please tell us about the purpose, significance and importance of President Luong Cuong's official visit to the Republic of Chile, the Republic of Peru and to attend the APEC 2024 Summit Week?
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Hang: At the invitation of President of the Republic of Chile Gabriel Boric Font and President of the Republic of Peru Dina Ercilia Boluarte Zegarra, President Luong Cuong will lead a high-ranking Vietnamese delegation to pay an official visit to the Republic of Chile and the Republic of Peru and attend the 2024 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit Week from November 9 to 16.
This is President Luong Cuong's first overseas trip in his new position, with special significance and importance both bilaterally and multilaterally.
Bilaterally , the visit will contribute to further consolidating traditional friendship, further enhancing political trust, effectively exploiting cooperation potential, promoting Vietnam's relations with the two countries as well as the Latin American region, and enhancing coordination with countries in responding to global challenges.
For Chile , this is the first visit by the President of Vietnam in 15 years, on the occasion of the 55th anniversary of the historic meeting between President Ho Chi Minh and the late President Salvador Allende - the event that laid the foundation for Chile to become the first country in South America to establish diplomatic relations with Vietnam. On that basis, Vietnam-Chile relations have been developing positively, especially in the field of trade. Two-way trade turnover has increased fourfold in more than a decade, reaching 1.5 billion USD in 2023.
Currently, Chile is one of Vietnam's leading partners in the region; it is the first Latin American country to sign a free trade agreement with Vietnam (in 2014). Accordingly, the visit will bring "new vitality" to Vietnam-Chile relations, especially in areas where the two sides still have much potential for cooperation.
For Peru , this is the first official visit by the President of Vietnam. Taking place on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, the visit is expected to be a historic milestone, contributing to consolidating the foundation of good political relations between the two countries, improving the effectiveness of cooperation in potential areas, and aiming to bring the relationship to a new height. Currently, Peru is the country with the largest direct investment of Vietnam in Latin America; is the 6th largest trading partner of Vietnam in the region, while Vietnam is Peru's largest trading partner in ASEAN. Bilateral trade turnover in 2023 reached nearly 500 million USD, and in the first 7 months of this year it reached nearly 300 million USD.
In addition, attending the APEC Summit Week is an opportunity for the President to meet and interact with APEC Leaders, including many comprehensive strategic partners and our strategic partners, contributing to continuously deepening relations with APEC members.
Multilaterally , the President's participation in the APEC 2024 Summit Week, on the occasion of the 35th anniversary of the Forum's founding, continues to affirm Vietnam's active and responsible contribution to solving regional and global issues, especially promoting the process of international economic integration, creating new momentum for regional growth; continuing to consolidate APEC's role as the leading economic forum, where 3/5 of the world's largest economies converge, accounting for about 77% of trade, 81% of foreign direct investment and 85% of tourists to Vietnam. As the host of APEC 2027, this is also an opportunity for Vietnam to promote the implementation of the APEC Vision to 2040 that our country initiated and participated in building with members since 2017.
It can be affirmed that President Luong Cuong's participation in the APEC 2024 Summit Week and official visits to the Republic of Chile and the Republic of Peru is an important step in implementing Vietnam's consistent foreign policy of diversification, multilateralization, being a friend, a reliable partner and a responsible member of the international community, creating new impetus to bring the Vietnam-Chile Comprehensive Partnership and the Vietnam-Peru multifaceted cooperation into a new stage of development that is more dynamic, substantive and effective, while affirming Vietnam's new mindset, increasing role and position in Asia-Pacific and the world.
Could you please share more about the meaning of the theme "Empowerment. Inclusion. Sustainability" as well as Vietnam's role, participation and contribution in APEC in the past and at the upcoming Conference?
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Hang: In recent years, APEC has identified a vision for more balanced, sustainable and inclusive economic development. In APEC 2024, host Peru continues to promote inclusive growth, ensuring that all people have access to and benefit from APEC cooperation programs.
In that spirit, the theme of APEC 2024 is "Empowerment. Inclusion. Growth". "Empowerment" means enhancing capacity and creating opportunities for all social sectors to participate in socio-economic activities. "Inclusion" means that all people can participate in and benefit from the process of innovation, digital transformation and economic growth. And finally, APEC's economic, trade, investment and cooperation activities are all aimed at "Growth", so that APEC continues to be the locomotive and growth engine of the region and the world.
During more than 25 years of participating in APEC (1998-2024), Vietnam has left many strong marks in APEC cooperation, and has always been assessed as a member with many positive, responsible and effective contributions to realizing APEC's cooperation goals and visions as well as enhancing the role of the Forum. Notably:
Firstly , Vietnam has twice successfully assumed the role of APEC Host in 2006 and 2017. As host, Vietnam has affirmed its capacity to manage and lead APEC cooperation, contributing to the success of the Conferences, promoting the momentum of cooperation and economic linkages of APEC and the Asia-Pacific region. Vietnam has also held many leadership positions in various APEC mechanisms, including the Secretariat, the ASEAN Group, and the Committees/Working Groups. Recently, Vietnam has once again been trusted by members to host APEC Year 2027.
Second , Vietnam has actively contributed to maintaining the momentum of APEC cooperation in the context of international economic cooperation and integration facing many challenges. By proposing and implementing nearly 190 initiatives and projects in many important areas such as structural reform, human resource development, women's empowerment, rural and urban development, climate change response, food security, e-commerce, etc., Vietnam has contributed to making APEC cooperation contents increasingly rich and comprehensive, adapting APEC to changes in the international situation and catching up with new development trends of the times, affirming APEC's indispensable role in promoting economic growth and integration in Asia-Pacific and globally.
Third , Vietnam has initiated and participated in shaping the long-term vision for APEC cooperation. Notably, the building of the APEC Vision to 2040 is a highlight. Vietnam has proactively participated in leading and coordinating the process of building the Report titled "People and Prosperity: APEC Vision to 2040". This is the basis for APEC Leaders to adopt the APEC Vision of an open, dynamic, resilient and peaceful Asia-Pacific community by 2040, for the prosperity of all people and future generations.
Continuing those proud efforts and with the spirit of the APEC 2027 Host, during the APEC 2024 Summit Week, Vietnam will continue to participate and make active and responsible contributions to the 31st APEC Summit and related meetings as well as the APEC Business Summit with the participation of more than 1,000 leading businesses in the region. The President will put forward many strategic and innovative proposals to further promote the role and position of APEC in international economic cooperation and linkage, responding to challenges facing the international community in general and the Asia-Pacific region in particular.
The President will also convey the message about the Vietnamese people's aspirations to rise up in the new era, the major orientations on development, foreign affairs and international integration of Vietnam, in which the Asia-Pacific region and the APEC Forum are among the top priorities, calling on APEC member economies and the regional business community to continue to accompany and support Vietnam in realizing the goal of becoming a high-income developed country by 2045./.
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Source: https://baotainguyenmoitruong.vn/apec-2024-chu-tich-nuoc-se-truyen-tai-thong-diep-ve-khat-vong-vuon-minh-cua-dan-toc-viet-nam-trong-ky-nguyen-moi-382873.html
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