President Tran Dai Quang chairs the international press conference on the 25th APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting

“The document was adopted with high consensus.  This is the most important outcome of the summit, and the APEC Year 2017 as a whole,” the Vietnamese President said.

The President said that, the Leaders of APEC endorsed the APEC Action Agenda on Advancing Economic, Financial and Social Inclusion to guide the bloc’s efforts moving forward and reaffirm leaders’ long-standing commitment to APEC’s mission of fostering sustainable economic growth and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region.

The Leaders of APEC adopted the APEC Framework on Human Resources Development in the Digital Age in order to improve growth quality, competitiveness and productivity of member economies.  “Measures and policies in the framework will not only meet the general concerns of the region, but also provide an impetus for Viet Nam to continue effectively implementing strategic breakthroughs in human resources development, most notably high-quality human resources”, the President said.

With the aim of generating new dynamisms for sustainable and inclusive growth, the meeting spent a substantial amount of time discussing strategic measures to develop micro, small and medium enterprises in a green, sustainable and innovative manner; promote starts-up and supporting industries; develop sustainable agriculture in response to climate change; strengthen food, water, and energy security; enhance structural reform and capacity; mitigate natural disaster risks; increase women’s economic empowerment and promote sustainable tourism development.

With an aim of fostering regional linkages and connectivity and contributing to maintaining APEC as a driver of global economic growth and connectivity, the meeting reaffirmed the commitment to completing the achievement of the Bogor Goals on liberalisation and facilitation of trade and investment, and enhancing economic and technical cooperation in efforts towards the formation of the Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP); and emphasised the role of APEC in backing a law-based, free, open, fair, transparent and inclusive multilateral trade system.

The Meeting also applauded cross-border e-commerce that creates conditions for APEC to effectively tap the potential for developing the Internet/digital economy as well as global supply and value chains.

The President stressed that APEC was doing its utmost to achieve Bogor Goals by 2020 and prepare for its fourth decade of development.  The decision also reflects the determination of member economies to build an Asia-Pacific community of peace, stability, dynamism, cohesion and prosperity, with people and businesses at its heart.

The group photo of leaders of 21 APEC economic economies at the end of the 25th APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting

On the occasion of the 25th APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting, Viet Nam held the APEC and ASEAN Informal Dialogue under the theme “Partnering for New Dynamism for a Comprehensively Connected and Integrated Asia-Pacific” for the first time with the attendance of leaders of APEC member economies  and 10 ASEAN countries.  The Dialogue aimed at providing fresh impetus to cooperation and integration in the Asia Pacific. 

President Tran Dai Quang also thanked the support of other APEC member economies given to Viet Nam to fulfill its role as the host of the APEC Year 2017.

Quynh Dan