Since joining APEC in 1998, the forum has become an important driving force in helping the country carry out reforms, perform economic restructuring and integration, propel the nation’s growth - and become a member of the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

Bùi Thanh Sơn, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, told Việt Nam News Agency this before the upcoming APEC Summit to be held in the central City of Đà Nẵng in early November.

Since 1998, when Việt Nam became an APEC member, the forum has helped the nation diversify and multilateralise its international relations while deepening its bilateral relations with many nations and international organisations. Being an APEC member, Việt Nam has done its best to further consolidate an environment of peace, co-operation and development among member nations.

The annual APEC summit is an occasion for member economies to hold bilateral talks at different levels, especially at the highest level, to consolidate co-operation, including to key partners. By now, among Việt Nam’s 25 strategic and comprehensive partners, 13 are the APEC members.

Since becoming a full member, Viet Nam has been considerably helped by APEC to improve its internal capacity, promote foreign trade, investment and tourism with other APEC partners.

At present APEC accounts for 75 per cent of the country’s trade; 78 per cent of foreign direct investment (FDI) and 79 per cent of foreign tourists. Being an APEC member, we have many opportunities to approach the most advanced science and technology and management skills.

APEC also presents our nation with many international resources to improve our own human resources and to participate in global value chains.

Since joining APEC, Vietnamese ministries, sectors, localities, enterprises and the staff involving in international co-operation and integration have all grown in skills and expertise. Việt Nam has further consolidated its stand and posture in the region and the world.

In 2017, we have witnessed many rapid and complicated events in the region and the world. International economic growth and trade have scored many positive points compared to previous years. However, in the long run, there remain many risks and a tendency towards trade protection.

In such a context, Việt Nam has achieved a certain success. Firstly, we have advocated most APEC members agree on the topic and the four priorities for the 2017 APEC Year, respecting their commitments and resolve to promote trade and open investment as well as to provide favourable conditions for business activities.

We’re confident that our message will get across and have positive impacts on enterprise activities and regional and international growth rate.

Being the host of the 2017 APEC Summit, Việt Nam has done its best to take the lead and to further promote co-operation among APEC members in the course of development.

In addition, Việt Nam’s initiatives on inclusive development promotion towards economy, finance, society and preparations for the future of APEC after the year 2020 have all enjoyed active support from other APEC members.

We’re confident that the 2017 APEC will create a new motivation for regional development and make APEC co-operation closer to the people and the enterprises.

Việt Nam hopes the summit will acknowledge the practical significance of Việt Nam’s contributions towards the course of APEC co-operation which is reflected in the following four aspects:

First, as a host country, together with other APEC members, Việt Nam has come up with new motivations for growth and linkage among regional countries through support for super small, small and medium enterprises in the context of the industrial revolution; food security in the context of the climate change and others.

Second, many topics which will be presented at various events during the year 2017 are the reflection of the continuity of topics touched upon at the previous APEC summits.

Third, the year 2017 is considered one of the most challenging years for the mechanism of multi-lateral co-operation in the world, including APEC to operate. As a host for this year’s event, Việt Nam has done its best to promote co-operation, unity and consensus among the APEC members.

And finally, the 2017APEC Year is an occasion to raise the role and position of  APEC member states. Events organised throughout the year have drawn the participation of many senior representatives and experts from various international organisations, including the IMF, the WB, the OECD, the ADB and others.

All activities held in Việt Nam in 2017 have reiterated that APEC has played an important role as a “convergence” of the regional and the world community. VNS