President Trần Đại Quang delivers a speech on Saturday at the APEC CEO Summit 2016 – an annual event for the Asia-Pacific business community within the framework of the 24th APEC Summit in Lima, Peru. — VNA/VNS Photo Nhan Sáng

LIMA — Vietnamese President Trần Đại Quang attended a dialogue and group meeting with the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC) Forum’s Business Advisory Council (APAC) within the framework of the 24th APEC High-level Week in Lima, Peru, on Saturday.

The dialogue, chaired by President Quang, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, Prime Minister of the Republic of Korea Kim Byong-joon and US Trade Representative Michael Froman, took place following a ceremony hosted by Peruvian President Pedro Paplo Kuczynski to welcome the heads of delegations from 21 member economies. 

At the dialogue, the leaders and entrepreneurs discussed ways to promote growth and connectivity in Asia-Pacific amidst the world’s slow economic recovery while protectionism and anti-globalisation sentiment has increased.

As the host of APEC Year 2016, Peru chose the theme “Quality Growth and Human Development” which focuses on four priorities of regional economic connectivity and quality growth, regional food markets, modernisation of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, and human resources development.

President Quang said that the APEC economies were resolved to pursue trade and investment liberalisation, promote quality growth and to help businesses, particularly micro, small and medium-sized enterprises. 

APEC businesses must work with governments to boost economic growth, he said, adding that he wished they would continue making positive contributions to the APEC Year Việt Nam 2017. 

In the afternoon, the Vietnamese President attended and delivered a speech at the closing ceremony of the APEC CEO Summit 2016 – an annual event for the Asia-Pacific business community within the framework of the APEC High-level Week. 

Addressing nearly 1,000 representatives from top regional businesses, Quang hailed the APEC Business Community as pioneers who have initiated many ideas for growth, co-operation and connectivity within the APEC Forum and Asia-Pacific as a whole. 

He noted that in a globalised world full of uncertainties, more than ever, APEC needed to reaffirm its role as an idea incubator and a driver for innovation, growth and integration. 

“The focus of the upcoming years must be on accelerating economic restructuring towards sustainability, inclusiveness and equity. Priority should be given to increasing productivity; ensuring food and resources security, especially water and clean energy; developing high-quality human resources; and strengthening competitiveness and creativity of businesses, especially micro, small and medium-sized enterprises”. 

"This future lies in building an APEC for the people and businesses, and contributing to maintaining Asia-Pacific as a driver of global growth and connectivity”, he said. 

The Vietnamese leader affirmed that after thirty years of reform, Việt Nam had gained enormous achievements, transforming from a less-developed country into a middle-income developing country. Việt Nam today is a rapidly growing market and is forecast to become one of the five most competitive manufacturing nations in Asia-Pacific by 2020. 

He underscored efforts to build a law-governed State that is transparent and efficient in the interest of people and businesses, improve legal institutions and policies, protect the environment and expand business space for stakeholders, promote accountability, uphold the rule of law, and create new drivers for development. 

As a dynamic economy with a high level of openness and the destination for many multinational corporations, Việt Nam was becoming increasingly integrated with the two sides of the Pacific through different partnerships, the ASEAN Community and a network of 16 free trade agreements with 59 partners including 18 APEC members, he said. 

Lauding the support and companionship of the APEC Business Community throughout the 30 years of reform and 20 years of Việt Nam’s membership in the APEC Forum, the State leader stressed that the State and people of Việt Nam look forward to meeting APEC businesses in Đà Nẵng next November. 

Earlier the same day, Quang attended the seventh high-level meeting of leaders of 12 Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) member states, chaired by US President Barack Obama. 

It was their first meeting since the TPP was signed in Auckland, New Zealand, on February 4, 2016. 

Speaking at the event, Quang urged member states to enhance technical support and capacity improvement to enjoy the benefits of the deal, and expressed his belief that implementing the TPP would promote widespread economic connectivity among 12 member states. 

The TPP leaders showed their determination to accelerate the implementation of the deal, considering it an important channel to deepen regional connectivity towards the establishment of the Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific deal. 

Also on Saturday afternoon, Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Phạm Bình Minh attended an informal dialogue between APEC leaders with the Pacific Alliance, including the four Latin American economies - Peru, Mexico, Chile and Colombia. — VNS