Workshop held on APEC Vietnam 2017

Ministries, agencies and localities and businesses in Vietnam should quickly renovate their practices, as well as renew their cross-sectorial co-ordination in order to proactively contribute new ideas and initiatives to the APEC Year 2017.

Deputy PM Pham Binh Minh (in the middle) speaks at the workshop. (VGP)
Deputy PM Pham Binh Minh (in the middle) speaks at the workshop. (VGP)

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh made the statement while attending a workshop on ‘APEC Vietnam 2017: Ways forward for a robust, resilient and inter-connected APEC Community’ in Hanoi on June 24.

APEC holds a strategic position in Vietnam's reform, development and international integration, the Deputy PM said, adding that the forum includes most of Vietnam’s strategic economic and trade partners who make up 78% of the country’s FDI, 79% of foreign trade and 70% of inbound tourists.

A total of 13 out of 15 Free Trade Agreements signed or currently under negotiation by Vietnam are with APEC member economies, he noted.

Deputy PM Minh emphasised that APEC has proven itself to be the world’s leading mechanism for economic co-operation, and has been a pioneer in advancing trade and investment liberalisation, and bolstering the trend of multi-layer-economic co-operation and integration for peace and development.

Deputy PM Minh also urged Vietnamese businesses and the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) to join hands with APEC businesses to come up with ideas and initiatives, contribute sources and showcase their essential role in preparations for and organisation of APEC 2017 and other related events, especially the CEO Summit.

Speaking at the workshop, Dr. Alan Bollard, Executive Director of the APEC Secretariat spoke highly of Vietnam's active participation in all APEC activities since joining over 15 years ago, as well as the significance of the APEC Year 2017 in Vietnam.

The workshop, which was jointly held by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam in partnership with the APEC Secretariat and the VCCI, is the first ever large-scale international workshop designed to promote the exchange of views and common views on the importance of APEC Vietnam 2017.