Vietnamese Ambassador to the US Pham Quang Vinh
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In that spirit, the country has consulted other APEC members about such issues as regional economic connectivity, sustainable growth, start-ups, global value chain, business competitiveness, food security and sustainable agriculture adaptable to climate change, among others, the ambassador added.
He spoke highly of the NCAPEC’s role to the development and successes of APEC as well as its contributions to APEC summits in 2006 and 2017 hosted by Vietnam. Vietnam will closely cooperate with the international business community, the NCAPEC and US enterprises in particular in all activities of APEC Year in 2017, the diplomat promised.
He called on US firms to continue backing the country’s efforts in order to create new values for APEC and ensure its development and successes by actively taking part in business dialogues within APEC 2017. Vinh said he hopes that the new US President will attend the event and visit Vietnam in the year.
Representatives of the participating US companies shared their views that with a strategic geographical location and active engagement in regional economic integration institutions like the ASEAN Economic Community, the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) will help Vietnam successfully host the summit.
They said they are interested in Vietnam’s assessment of the TPP’s impacts on other regional trade integration institutions like the RECP as well as the prospects for the establishment of a Free Trade Area of Asia-Pacific. NCAPEC leaders expressed their willingness to coordinate with the Vietnamese Embassy in the US to make APEC 2017 a success.
Established in November 1989, APEC now comprises 21 economies, representing around 39 percent of the world’s population, 57 percent of total global GDP and 47 percent of international trade. Vietnam joined the forum in November 1998 and successfully hosted the 2006 APEC and the 6th APEC Human Resources Development Ministerial Meeting in 2014. The hosting of APEC 2017 is a focus of Vietnam’s external activities by 2020. The successful organisation of the events is significant to promoting the country’s image as a peaceful, stable and friendly destination and an intensively integrated economy.
