The Vietnamese delegation, led by President Truong Tan Sang, made practical contributions to the success of the APEC Economic Leaders’ Week in Manila, the Philippines from November 13-19, stated Deputy Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son.

President Truong Tan Sang was the keynote speaker at many important discussions, especially the APEC CEO Summit and the plenary session on boosting inclusive growth through economic connectivity, Son said.

The Vietnamese leader affirmed the determination to continue extensive reform and the implementation of Sustainable Development Goals, while giving initiatives to maintain an environment of peace and stability for development.

He suggested that the APEC should prioritise sustainable development, poverty reduction, development gap narrowing, food security, water management, agriculture development and natural disaster response, which are included in Vietnam’s socio-economic development strategy from 2010-2020.

On the occasion, the Vietnamese leader had a number of meetings with leaders from APEC member economies, including the Philippines, Russia, Canada, Malaysia, Peru, and Papua New Guinea, to seek ways to foster bilateral ties as well as closer coordination at multilateral forums.

Especially, President Truong Tan Sang and the host country’s President had talks and witnessed the signing of a Joint Statement on the establishment of bilateral strategic partnership, lifting the cooperation and political trust between the two sides to a new height, noted the diplomat.

Meanwhile, the Vietnamese delegation had in-depth discussion with the APEC hosts in the 2015-2022 period, especially Peru and Papua New Guinea to strengthen collaboration, ensuring the success of the APEC Year 2017 hosted by Vietnam.

President Truong Tan Sang also spent time meeting leading regional and international economic groups to spread a message of an actively reforming Vietnam with increasingly intensive international integration through the joining of a series of free trade deals, including the Trans-Pacific Partnership involving 12 out of the 21 APEC member economies.

The success of the APEC Economic Leaders’ Week not only opened up new development prospects in Asia-Pacific but also created chances for Vietnam to make more effective contributions to the APEC development as the Chair of the APEC Year 2017, said the Deputy FM.

Regarding major outcomes of the event, Son said the APEC leaders adopted two high-level declarations, one ministerial statement and six other documents targeting sustainable and inclusive development.

For the first time since 2010, the APEC mapped out a long-term strategy on enhancing the quality of growth in line with institutional building, social connectivity and environmental protection.

The leaders also approved an agenda supporting small and medium-sized and super small enterprises, which account for 97 percent of total Asia-Pacific firms and contribute 60 percent of the region’s GDP, in joining regional and global markets.

The APEC economic leaders also agreed to reinforce regional economic links and strengthen global trade liberation, while establishing a number of new mechanism and goals, including the improvement of business environment by 10 percent in 2018, noted the Deputy FM.

VNA