In the article, themed “APEC 2017: Vietnam’s new vision and position,” Anthoni said that the regional and international media applauded Vietnam’s preparations and organisation of the APEC Economic Leaders’ Week, which took place in the central city of Da Nang, from November 6-11.
Vietnam hosted the APEC Year for the second time and in the context of complex developments in both the regional and global situation, the article said, stressing that APEC is also sprinting towards the Bogor Goals by 2020.
Therefore, it noted, international friends saw the APEC Year 2017 as both a challenge and a great opportunity to spur growth and intensify connectivity in Asia-Pacific and the world at large, contributing to maintaining peace, stability and development in a changing world.
APEC 2017 offered an opportunity for Vietnam to prove its wisdom and brainpower in external relations, especially in multilateral foreign affairs during the cause of international integration.
Vietnam’s selection of topics, priorities and cooperation orientations for APEC 2017 reflected the country’s strategic vision in external affairs, the article commented.
APEC 2017 is expected to create a new momentum for the forum, while enabling Vietnam to contribute to shaping the future of not only APEC but also the regional economic architecture.
APEC is one of the most important multilateral forums and offers the most tangible benefits to Vietnam, the article stated, explaining that the forum brings together 13 out of the 25 strategic and comprehensive partners, alongside many leading economic and trade partners of Vietnam. Up to 18 APEC members are important partners of bilateral and multilateral free trade agreements to which Vietnam is a signatory.
APEC members account for 78% of foreign direct investment, 75% of merchandise trade, 38% official development assistance and 79% of international tourists in Vietnam. Approximately 80% of Vietnamese students are studying in APEC member economies.
Thus, APEC 2017 is one of the focuses of Vietnam's foreign policy and the country’s most important contribution to APEC cooperation in the period of international integration.
Apart from the ASEAN Chair in 2020, candidacy for a non-permanent seat in the UN Security Council for 2020-2021 and efforts to complete the commitments to the World Trade Organisation (WTO), the hosting of APEC 2017 will contribute to realising the advocacy of the 12th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam to improve the quality and efficiency of multilateral foreign relations.
According to the article, it is no coincidence that Vietnam became the first host country of APEC to be invited to this year's G20 meeting. This demonstrates the trust and appreciation of our international friends for the initiatives and ideas proposed by Vietnam for APEC. Clearly, APEC 2017 activities have contributed to asserting the increasingly important role of the forum, as well as Vietnam’s position regionally and globally.
