On the occasion of Vietnam’s State President Truong Tan Sang attending
the 20th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit (APEC 20) in Russia’s
Vladivostok last week, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son writes about
Vietnam’s contributions to this forum’s cooperation and development.
Established in November, 1989 at
a ministerial-level meeting in Australia’s capital Canberra by 12 member
economies, APEC has become bigger with 21 member economies including nine economies
belonging to the G20.
APEC occupies 59, 50, over 50 and
57 per cent of the world’s population, territory, gross domestic product (GDP)
and trade volume, respectively.
APEC has actively hoisted trade
and investment liberalisation and facilitation, such as the Bogo Declaration
issued in 1994. Under this declaration, trade and investment liberalisation is
boosted by developed economies in 2010 and by developing economies in 2020.
After nearly 20 years, the
average tariff level of member economies was pruned from 16.9 per cent in 1989
to 6.6 per cent in 2008, lower than the average 10.4 per cent level of the
World Trade Organization’s member economies. The regional trade transaction
cost has also reduced remarkably, with two, 5 per cent reductions in 2006 and
2010. APEC member economies’ economic links have also been increasingly
cemented.
In recent years, for boosted
sustainable development, APEC cooperation has been expanded to many other new
sectors like climate change, energy and food security, water resources,
education and enhancement of women’s role in socio-economic development. APEC
is currently implementing its new growth strategy, with five comprehensive
areas of balance, uniformity, stableness, renewal and safety.
APEC was organised for the first
time in Russia this year. More than 700 leading companies from the region
converged in Vladivostok to discuss with leaders about solutions to global
emerging challenges. Ministers of foreign and economic affairs also actively
worked to lift APEC cooperation in all fields.
The “Integrate to Grow, Innovate
to Prosper”-themed 20th APEC’s activities will send a strong message about
APEC’s determination in contributing to the world’s growth and prosperity.
Russian friends were doing their
best to welcome leaders and friends from all member economies to create a new
stamp in APEC cooperation. The stamp will surely be an orientation for APEC to
reap more successes.
Vietnam’s active contributions to
APEC cooperation
In November 1998, Vietnam became
an official APEC member, a milestone in the country’s diplomatic policy and
international integration. Vietnam’s joining APEC reflects the strategic vision
of its Party and government.
APEC is an important forum,
bringing strategic and practical benefits, both economically and politically,
to Vietnam. It is the place where Vietnam can enhance its role and ameliorate
its status and image internationally as a developing and dynamic nation which
is active in international economic integration. APEC is also an effective
channel for Vietnam to intensify its bilateral cooperation with the forum’s
member economies, including some top strategic partners.
During its 14 years in APEC,
Vietnam has been an active and responsible member, with its most salient
success in chairing the 14th APEC Summit in November, 2006 with over 100 events
organised. The Hanoi Action plan to implement the APEC’s Bogo Target and
overall reformatory measures adopted in this summit have greatly contributed to
making new impetuses for APEC.
Moreover, Vietnam has also taken
the initiative in proposing and hosting over 70 initiatives and activities in
almost all sectors, from commerce, investment and economic-technical
cooperation to emergency preparedness, healthcare and anti-terrorism.
One of Vietnam’s most outstanding
things in 2012 is that it has been for the first time assigned by APEC members
to be the co-chair of APEC Task Force for Emergency Preparedness. Vietnam has
successfully organised some APEC activities, including the 45th APEC Information
and Communications Task Force in central Danang city, the 3rd APEC Air Cargo
Security Workshop and APEC Business Advisory Council Meeting in Ho Chi Minh
City. At the same time, Vietnam has also actively boosted APEC’s prioritised
areas suitable to its interests, like economic links, food security, water
resources security, coping with natural calamities and sustainably protecting
sea resources.
With the success of the 11th
National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam, the country is embarking
on a new strategic development stage, which is to continue its comprehensive
renewal, economic restructuring and active international integration.
The Asia-Pacific and APEC are
increasingly important to Vietnam. It is because this region closely pertains
to the country’s development in all areas, like economy, foreign affairs,
security and development. Along with these things and the comprehensive strategic
partnership with Russia which is hosting the 20th APEC, Vietnam has been doing
its utmost, together with Russian friends and other APEC members, to positively
contribute to the success of this year’s APEC Summit, for the sake of peace,
cooperation, development and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region.
vir.com.vn
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