All necessary preparations for the first APEC Senior Officials Meeting (SOM1) have been completed after the SOM Steering Committee on ECOTECH (SCE), the SOM Friends of the Chair (FoTC) on Connectivity and the Policy Support Unit (PSU) concluded their final meetings on March 1.

As the first event with the attendance of APEC senior officials, the FoTC meeting updated the progress of implementing initiatives to deploy the APEC Connectivity Blueprint. The delegates also discussed the implementation of the long-term plan on infrastructure investment and development as well as the APEC Services Competitiveness Roadmap.

In his opening speech, Vietnamese Permanent Deputy Foreign Minister, APEC 2017 Chair Bui Thanh Son stressed that enhancing connectivity will help create new dynamism for economic growth, promote inclusive development, strengthen regional economic links and bring APEC economies closer.

Today, SCE heard a report on the APEC work plan presented by Executive Director of the APEC Secretariat Alan Bollard. On this basis, the committee re-examined and made recommendations to the work plans in 2017 of its subordinate working groups.

At its meeting, PSU re-examined the unit’s operations in the past year and underway projects. In 2016, PSU conducted 18 publications and reports. A number of researches implemented by PSU focus on structural reform, regional economic trend, promoting digital trade to serve inclusive growth and industry support policy.

Also on March 1, Executive Director of the APEC Secretariat Alan Bollard held a meeting with the media to share the views on the context for SOM1 and discuss the outlook for policy collaboration between Vietnam and other APEC economies.

Vietnam’s delegation continued making contributions to APEC activities by chairing the FoTC and PSU Meetings.

On March 2, the most important event - SOM1 – will begin its two-day gathering.

Delegates optimistic about APEC cooperation prospects

APEC delegates pose for picture at a meeting 

On the sidelines of the first APEC Senior Officials Meeting (SOM1) and related meetings in Nha Trang city, south central Khanh Hoa province, some delegates showed their optimism about the prospects for connectivity and cooperation among the APEC member economies.

Having evaluated the outcomes of the meetings of APEC committees and working groups before SOM1, Ambassador-at-Large Valery E. Sorokin, Senior Official of Russia for APEC, said “the discussions were producing desirable results.”

Delegates attending SOM1 on March 2-3 will be hearing reports on the outcomes of the working groups. Earlier, at the APEC Informal Senior Officials Meeting (ISOM) in Hanoi last December, the Russian delegation was informed about the theme and priorities for the APEC Year 2017 proposed by the host country.

“Russia absolutely supports the theme and priorities because these are in line with the APEC major agenda as well as trade and economic development in general,” Sorokin said.

Sharing the view with the Russian ambassador, Alcinda L Trawen, an official from Papua New Guinea, said the meetings of the APEC committees and working groups were successful, producing encouraging results.

The theme and priorities proposed by Vietnam for the APEC Year 2017 are conformable with the APEC member economies as well as the current economic situation in the region and the world, she noted.

Regarding the prospects for cooperation among the APEC members, Ambassador Sorokin said: “Russia is optimistic about the APEC cooperation as this mechanism has so far proven to be effective in all aspects well ahead of international organisations.”

According to the diplomat, APEC is not an international organisation and is not binding and the forum’s decisions are alternative rather than binding. But these decisions are binding the APEC members after they reached and approved.

Russia wants to promote the common work to complete the 2020 Bogor Goals, Sorokin said, adding that Russia appreciated Vietnam’s efforts in calling upon the APEC members to promise practical steps to accomplish the Bogor Goals.

Meanwhile, Alcinda L Trawen said most APEC economies have the same economic aspiration for developmen, adding that Papua New Guinea’s aspiration is to continue collaborating with other APEC members.

Having lauded Vietnam’s contributions to the success of the meetings prior to SOM1, Ambassador Sorokin said Vietnam has well prepared for SOM1 and related meetings. With 21 delegations from the APEC member economies and a lot of meetings and workshops, Vietnam has still ensured logistics services despite limited budget.

As a representative from the host country of the APEC Year 2018, Trawen was impressed by Vietnam’s preparations for SOM1 and related meetings, including the transport and food. “This is my first time in Vietnam and it is very good,” she said.

Vietnam makes practical contributions to APEC issues

Permanent Deputy Foreign Minister, APEC 2017 SOM Chair Bui Thanh Son 

The first APEC Senior Officials Meeting (SOM1) and related meetings in Nha Trang city, Khanh Hoa province, are of significance, opening the APEC Vietnam 2017 and kick-starting preparations for the APEC Economic Leaders’ Week scheduled for Da Nang city in November, a high-ranking official has said.

In an exclusive interview granted to the Vietnam News Agency (VNA), Permanent Deputy Foreign Minister, APEC 2017 SOM Chair Bui Thanh Son said as many as 60 events of APEC committees, working groups and sub-committees were held within the framework of SOM1 and related meetings, covering a range of fields such as trade and investment, business facilitation, services, tourism, food security, seas and oceans, response to climate change, standards and conformance, healthcare, life science and innovation and anti-corruption.

In the context that the regional and world situation has witnessed profound changes; the world economy and global trade have seen slower-than-expected growth; and populism and protectionism have posed challenges to the globalisation results, the outcomes of SOM1 are crucial to APEC cooperation orientations throughout the year and contribute to the deployment of the APEC 2017 theme of “Creating new dynamism, fostering a shared future”, promoting trade and investment liberalisation, strengthening regional economic connectivity and generating a new momentum for the growth in Asia – Pacific and each regional economy, Son elaborated.

Regarding Vietnam’s proposed priorities for APEC 2017, Son said the APEC members supported and reached high consensus on the four priorities, namely promoting sustainable, innovative and inclusive growth; deepening regional economic integration; strengthening micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs)’ competitiveness and innovation in the digital age; and enhancing food security and sustainable agriculture in response to climate change.

At the meetings, workshops and dialogues, delegates enthusiastically discussed and proposed initiatives as well as practical and specific measures to implement the AEPC 2017 priorities. These initiatives and measures will be submitted to SOM1 for consideration and approval.

According to the Deputy Minister, APEC members also proposed projects and programmes on enhancing capacity to create favourable conditions for the members, especially developing economies, participate in and take full advantage of APEC cooperation opportunities.

In the freshly-ended meetings, Vietnam’s delegation comprising of officials from relevant ministries, sectors and agencies, actively joined in and made practical contributions to regional issues of common concern such as promoting regional economic connectivity, creating optimal conditions for micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) to expand business, investment and participate in the global value chains, and developing human resources.

The Vietnamese delegates deliberated practical issues closely connected to the lives of people and localities, including disease prevention and control, food hygiene and safety, at the Health Working Group (HWG) Meeting. They also shared experience and measures in response to natural disasters at the Emergency Preparedness Working Group (EPWG) Meeting.

Leaders, officials, businesspeople and people of Khanh Hoa province have actively joined in preparing for the meetings and taken this occasion to promote economic, investment and tourism potentials of Nha Trang city, Khanh Hoa province and the south central region as well.

In regard to Vietnam’s preparations, Son said the hosting of the APEC Year 2017 is the focus in the country’s foreign policy from now to 2020. Based on Vietnam’s improved position and strength after 30 years of reform and international integration and its experience in organising international events, since late 2014, ministries, sectors and localities, especially the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, have actively made preparations with the hope of ensuring the success of the APEC Year 2017 in all aspects.

Vietnam has coordinated closely with international organisations and research institutes to timely grasp the region and world’s common trends and issues of interest. The country has also conducted consultations with other APEC members to ensure that the outcomes of the APEC Year 2017 will benefit people and businesses in all APEC economies.

Vietnam has accumulated experience in hosting events of APEC committees and working groups by attending APEC activities in 2015 and 2016. The hosting of the APEC Year 2017 has offered a valuable chance for staff in charge of multilateral cooperation to improve their qualifications to serve the country’s international integration in the new period.

The successful hosting of SOM1 and related meetings will lay a firm foundation for the implementation of following activities within the framework of the APEC Year 2017 and at the same time, leave a good impression on international delegates and friends about Nha Trang city and a beautiful, hospitable, dynamic Vietnam – an attractive destination for foreign investors and tourists, Son concluded.

VNA