APEC 2017 elevates Vietnam’s political posture

As the host country, Vietnam is showing the world its openness, renewal, integration, and contribution to regional peace and cooperation.

The 30-year-old Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum has confirmed its leading role in regional growth and connectivity, making Asia-Pacific a dynamic region with growing economic and political importance.

Challenges turned into growth momentum

In this tumultuous world, Asia-Pacific is facing major challenges in economics, trade, society, security, and politics. These include mounting protectionism, pollution, climate change, and global political and security changes.

APEC is considered one of the important regional frameworks for dealing with shared challenges. Vietnam’s responsibility is to make sure that APEC 2017 reflects the shared aspirations of APEC’s 21 member economies.

Nguyen Minh Vu, deputy head of the APEC 2017 Secretariat, said,“Vietnam chose as the topic of this APEC Year “Creating new dynamism, fostering a shared future,” and set four priorities: promoting sustainable, innovative and inclusive growth; deepening regional economic integration; strengthening the competitiveness and innovation of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs); and enhancing food security and sustainable agriculture in response to climate change. The agenda has been described by other APEC members as realistic and specific."

Raul Salazar, head of the senior officials’ delegation of Peru, the host of APEC 2016, said that the issues raised by Vietnam have been agreed upon by APEC because they match the global economic situation and members’ concerns.

He said, "I think Vietnam has chosen the right issue because that's the way to make things useful for our society. Also you're providing continuity to the food market, which is an issue important for emerging economies.

Vietnam stature enhanced

Over the past 2 decades, Vietnam has been an active and responsible member, who has made practical contributions to APEC cooperation. Hosting APEC Year for the second time, Vietnam is seeing its position elevated since its first hosting in 2006.

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ietnam has established 13 strategic and comprehensive partnership frameworks with other APEC members and will welcome four high-level visits, including a visit by US President Donald Trump.

Dr. Tran Viet Thai, deputy director general of the Institute for Foreign Policy and Strategic Studies, said, “US President Bill Clinton, who pushed for the normalization of relations with Vietnam, only visited Vietnam at the end of his term. But President Donald Trump will visit very early in his term. This shows rising position and role of Vietnam, a developing country with a foreign policy of persification and multilateralization of relations.”