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APEC 2017 to discuss cooperation orientations
The first APEC senior officials’ meeting (SOM1) and related meetings have taken place in Nha Trang City, Khanh Hoa Province from February 18 to March 3 to map out cooperation orientations in 2017.
SOM1 is the first event of APEC in 2017. It comprises 56 meetings, seminars, and discussions of 38 APEC committees and working groups on different fields from FREE TRADE liberalization, business facilitation, natural disaster response, human resource development, movement of businessmen, fishing, e-commerce, and services.
Under the theme “Creating new dynamism, fostering a shared future,” delegates would discuss and pass priorities for APEC cooperation in 2017 with a view to spurring sustainable growth; fostering regional connectivity; edging competitiveness and creation for SMEs and super micro businesses; strengthening food security, sustainable agriculture; adapting to climate change.
Participants proposed new measures to boost cooperation in training regional young scientists, promoting technology transfer and application to reduce natural disaster risks and facilitate the mobility of entrepreneurs, as well as promote the legal trade on timber products and strengthen connectivity of regional supply chains for mutual sustainable growth.
The meetings opened a series of activities under the first Senior Officials’ Meeting of APEC (SOM-1) scheduled to run until March 3. They also shared experience in developing human resources in intellectual property and increasing public engagement in corruption prevention.
Chief of the Vietnamese Government Inspectorate Phan Van Sau addressed a workshop on enhancing the involvement of society in preventing and combating corruption, during which he highlighted Vietnam’s positive changes in the field.
Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Tran Quoc Khanh attended a meeting on increasing competitiveness, innovation and connectivity of the PPSTI, while Deputy Director of the General Department of Irrigation under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development Tran Quang Hoai chaired a meeting of the EPWG.
Other Vietnamese ministries and agencies proactively contributed their initiatives, including the development of a creative and innovative business ecosystem in the APEC member economies. In the days to come, the panels will continue discussing collaboration priorities for this year.
Established in 1989, APEC now comprises 21 economies, namely Australia; Brunei; Canada; Chile; China; Hong Kong, China; Indonesia; Japan; the Republic of Korea; Malaysia; Mexico; New Zealand; Papua New Guinea; Peru; the Philippines; Russia; Singapore; Chinese Taipei; Thailand; the United States; and Vietnam. Vietnam joined APEC in 1998, and hosted APEC in 2006.
Within the framework of APEC 2017, participants will seek to boost regional trade facilitation and digital economy, while emphasising Good Regulatory Practice (GRP) with focus on the development of national quality infrastructure and priorities such as food safety, environmental protection, and smart city development.
