All 21 leaders of the APEC economies have confirmed their attendance at the upcoming APEC 2017 Economic Leaders’ Week in the central city of Da Nang. 

 VietNamNet Bridge - Vietnam as well as APEC member economies welcome new opportunities, but also face many challenges to adapt and develop.

 Disputes in the East Sea after the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA)’s ruling issued in July 2016 will be tabled at an international symposium to be hosted by the Asia-Africa Institute under the Hamburg University from November 24-25.

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Nguyen Phu Trong hosted a reception in Hanoi on November 1 for Song Tao, special envoy of General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Xi Jinping.

 Deputy Minister of Defence and Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army Sen. Lieut. Gen. Phan Van Giang received visiting Indian Air Chief Marshal Birender Singh Dhanoa in Hanoi on November 1.

 Lao Deputy Prime Minister Sonesay Siphandone welcomed Vietnamese Minister of Information and Communications (MIC) Truong Minh Tuan in Vientiane on November 1.

The National Assembly of Vietnam will closely coordinate with the Vietnamese Government and the Lao counterparts to successfully carry out the Lao NA House project whose construction began in Vientiane on November 1, said a top legislator.

 Politburo member Vo Van Thuong and Argentine leaders have discussed measures to further boost cooperation between Vietnam and Argentina, especially in 2018 when they celebrate the 45th anniversary of diplomatic ties.

 Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc hosted a reception on October 31 for new Bangladeshi Ambassador to Vietnam Samina Naz, during which he affirmed that Vietnam always pays great attention to developing partnership with the South Asian country.

 The Law on Special Administrative-Economic Units must create breakthroughs in mechanisms and preferential incentives to boost economic development, experts have said.

 Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc hosted a reception in Hanoi on October 31 for AB InBev CEO Carlos Brito, during which he said Vietnam wants Belgian businesses to invest more in the Southeast Asian country.

Legislators discussed the results of the implementation of the socio-economic development and State budget plans for 2017 during the plenary sitting on October 31.

 The National Assembly (NA) on Tuesday started a two-and-a-half day discussion about the social-economic development and budget estimates for 2018.

 The Government has lost its battle to reduce the number of public servants, with the administrative system bloating year by year.

 Major Do Thi Hang Nga of the Vietnam Peacekeeping Centre under the Ministry of National Defence has become the country’s first female officer to join the UN peacekeeping mission in South Sudan.

 President Tran Dai Quang received US Ambassador to Vietnam Ted Osius in Hanoi on October 30, appreciating the outgoing diplomat’s active contributions to Vietnam-US relations.

Many NA deputies have shared the views that heads of State agencies should take higher responsibility in staff reduction on the sidelines of their discussions on law enforcement in the reform of State administrative apparatus for 2011-2016.

 General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee Xi Jinping received in Beijing on October 30 Hoang Binh Quan, special envoy of the Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong.

 Lawmakers looked into law enforcement in the reform of State administrative apparatus during 2011-2016 at the fourth sitting of the 14th National Assembly (NA) in Hanoi on October 30. 

International friends have recognized the 2017 APEC as both a challenge and a great opportunity to promote growth and linkages in Asia Pacific and the world. VietNamNet would like to introduce an article by Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh.