A number of strategic documents that orient long-term cooperation within the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum in the coming decades will be presented to the bloc’s ministers and leaders this week, said an official.

Chair of APEC 2017 Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM) Bui Thanh Son 

Chair of APEC 2017 Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM) Bui Thanh Son told local and foreign reporters at a press conference at the end of the Concluding Senior Officials’ Meeting (CSOM) on November 7 that participants reached a consensus in this respect.  

“Content of the documents are attached with the APEC Year 2017’s theme - that is "Creating new dynamism, fostering a shared future"  and priorities, said Son, who is also Permanent Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs. 

The four priorities focus on 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. 

“CSOM is of significance as it sums up final preparations in terms of contents for the 29th APEC Ministerial Meeting and the 25th APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting,” said Son. 

After one and a half day of working, CSOM also achieved a number of main outcomes including the approval of reports summarising activities of the four APEC committees on trade and investment, economics, economic and technical cooperation. 

“The reports show positive progresses of members in the implementation of action plans and programmes of APEC, particularly in the development of human resources and education cooperation, accelerating inclusive and sustainable development, promoting women’s economic empowerment; and enabling micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises to integrate into the global market,” the APEC 2017 SOM Chair said. 

He noted that the fourth and final SOM of 2017 discussed efforts to maintain open and free trade and facilitate investment, with quite a few participants expressed their support for multilateral trade system. 

“The senior officials approved the Roadmap on internet and digital economy to be reported to APEC ministers,” Son said, adding that member economies spoke highly of Vietnam’s initiative on facilitating cross-border e-commerce, and furthering members’ capability in the supply chain and fostering the supporting industry in the Asia-Pacific with the aim to maintain regional economic integration and linkage.

“Numerous member economies show their support for efforts for the establishment of FTAAP (Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific ),” said the official. 

According to Son, SCOM also adopted the Common Action Plan of the Economic Committee in conjunction with the progress of the Senior Finance Officials’ Meeting (SFOM) and agreed with the long-term operation of the APEC Policy Support Unit. 

“The outcome is of pretty importance as it reflects long-term efforts of member economies to strengthen co-operation and accelerate efficiency of APEC’s operation,” said Son.-VNA