All preparations for APEC 2017 now completed: Deputy FM

All preparations for the APEC 2017 Economic Leaders’ Week have already been completed, ensuring the success of the most important political-diplomatic event in Vietnam this year.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Vice Chairman of the APEC 2017 National Committee Bui Thanh Son (third from left) speaks at the press briefing
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Vice Chairman of the APEC 2017 National Committee Bui Thanh Son (third from left) speaks at the press briefing

Permanent Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Vice Chairman of the APEC 2017 National Committee Bui Thanh Son made the statement at a press briefing in Hanoi on November 2.

According to Son, the APEC 2017 Economic Leaders’ Week, themed “Creating New Dynamism, Fostering a Shared Future”, will take place in the central city of Da Nang from November 6-11. The event will bring together around 10,000 delegates from the 21 APEC member economies.

President Tran Dai Quang will preside over and attend the main activities during the Week, including the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) Dialogue with the APEC Leaders and the APEC – ASEAN Informal Dialogue on November 10, together with an official welcome ceremony for the APEC Economic Leaders and their spouses, and the Gala Dinner and Cultural Performance.

He will chair the 25th APEC Economic Leaders’ Retreat on November 11 and deliver an opening speech at the APEC CEO Summit scheduled for November 8-10.

President Tran Dai Quang’s spouse, Nguyen Thi Hien, will host the APEC Leaders’ Spouse Programme, on November 11, in Da Nang and Hoi An city in the neighbouring province of Quang Nam.

The Vietnam Business Summit will be held on November 7 with Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc to attend and deliver a keynote speech.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh and Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Tuan Anh will co-chair the 29th APEC Ministerial Meeting (AMM) on November 8, while Permanent Deputy FM Bui Thanh Son, who is also APEC 2017 SOM Chair, will preside over the APEC Concluding Senior Officials’ Meeting (CSOM) on November 6-7.

The ABAC will convene a meeting on November 4-6 and the APEC Voices of The Future will take place on November 6-10.

On the fringes of the event, there will be many bilateral meetings between the Vietnamese and APEC leaders, aiming to enhance their bilateral relations, as well as their cooperation within APEC, Deputy FM Son said.

The leaders of China, the US, Canada and Chile have affirmed that they will visit Vietnam on the occasion, he revealed.

A huge number of cooperation agreements and contracts are also expected to be signed between businesses of Vietnam and other APEC member economies during the Week, he added.

Established in 1989, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) comprises of 21 economies, including Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, China, Hong Kong (China), Indonesia, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, the Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Chinese Taipei, Thailand, the US, and Vietnam.

APEC represents about 39 percent of the world’s population and contributes 57 per cent to the global GDP and 49 per cent of international trade.