Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang hosted a gala dinner on November 10 to welcome Asian-Pacific leaders on the ocassion of the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in Da Nang city.

Host Vietnam held a Gala Dinner in celebration of the 25th APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting in the central city of Da Nang on November 10.

In his welcome address, President Tran Dai Quang said Vietnam is at the front of continental Southeast Asia looking out to the Pacific Ocean. 

“For Vietnam, the Asia-Pacific region is always at the top of our foreign policy priority and development strategy”, he said. 

Since the launch of Doi moi, Vietnam has twice had the honour to host APEC. This alone is an indication of the reality that Vietnam’s future is inseparable from that of the region, exactly as reflected in the chosen theme for APEC 2017 – “Creating New Dynamism, Fostering a Shared Future”.

"When Vietnam first hosted APEC 11 years ago, we were in the early days of our journey of regional and international economic integration,” he said, adding Vietnam has since joined the group of middle-income economies, with per capita income tripling from 730 USD to nearly 2,400 USD.

Vietnam today is an active and responsible member of regional and global cooperation mechanisms and an important link in key regional economic integration networks, he noted.

According to the President, the achievements recorded during 20 years of APEC membership underline Vietnam’s determination to engage in a process of comprehensive renovation and extensive integration. 

“They also highlight our commitment to playing a more active role in shaping regional and global cooperation mechanisms. What we have achieved thus far is, moreover, the fruits of an ever more deepened cooperation between Vietnam and APEC member economies,” he said. 

“For Vietnam to become a strong economy and a favourite destination of international friends, we have made great strides in strengthening our cooperation.

He went on to say that many APEC members have become Vietnam’s top trade and investment partners. APEC members make up 85 percent of our international tourists and are home to 80 percent of Vietnamese students abroad. 

“This has helped bring Vietnam closer to the world and the world closer to Vietnam. From the bottom of our heart, we hope you will continue to work together with us for the success of APEC and Vietnam,” he said.

The APEC Economic Leaders’ Week from November 6-11 is drawing around 10,000 delegates from the 21 APEC member economies.

Established in 1989, APEC comprises 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.

It represents 39 percent of the world population, 57 percent of the world GDP and 47 percent of the total trade.

President Tran Dai Quang and his wife welcome General Secretary of the Communist Party of China and President of China Xi Jinping President Tran Dai Quang and his wife welcome Russian President Vladimir Putin President Tran Dai Quang, Sinagporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and their wives Brunei Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah (L) is welcomed at the gala dinner  Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull (L) and President Tran Dai Quang and his wife and  Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and President Tran Dai Quang and his wife  President Tran Dai Quang welcomes Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak  President Tran Dai Quang and his wife welcome New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern  Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and President Tran Dai Quang and his wife President Tran Dai Quang and his wife welcome State Counsellor of Myanmar Aung San Suu Kyi President Tran Dai Quang and his wife welcome US President Donald Trump  APEC leaders and their spouses pose for a group photo  US President Donald Trump talks to Russian President Vladimir Putin at the photo session  Presidents Tran Dai Quang and Vladimir Putin toast at the gala dinner  President Tran Dai Quang and State Counsellor of Myanmar Aung San Suu Kyi make a toast  President Tran Dai Quang and General Secretary of the Communist Party of China and President of China Xi Jinping  President Tran Dai Quang and his US counterpart Donald Trump  President Tran Dai Quang and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe toast at the gala dinner  Russian President Vladimir Putin talks to IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde  President Tran Dai Quang and General Secretary of the Communist Party of China and President of China Xi Jinping talk at the gala dinner

VNA