APEC member economies’ leaders (Photo: VGP)
Adopted by the 25th APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting (AELM-25), the Da Nang Declaration continues to confirm the commitment to increased cooperation and joint action in promoting links and regional economic growth for a dynamic and prosperous APEC Community, and increasing the Asia-Pacific partnership for sustainable and inclusive development. This is considered the most important result of the APEC Year Vietnam 2017.
To reach the result, the host Vietnam has worked with relevant sides to organize over 200 meetings, double the figure in 2006 when Vietnam hosted APEC for the first time. The most important work of the host is how to reach joint voices and regulate concerns and interests of related parties, as the event gathered economies of different cultures and interests.
The utmost efforts of the host, and responses of all parties, helped APEC reach a voice of consensus, ensuring the role of APEC as a leading regional economic cooperation mechanism.
Talking about the subjects put forth at AELM-25 by Vietnam, Russian President Vladimir Putin stressed the reality of the subject, while Mexican Minister of Foreign Affairs Luis Videgaray Alzada revealed his positive impression of Vietnam’s ideas at the APEC Economic Leaders’ Week and his complete support of the agenda proposed by Vietnam.
Under the chairmanship of Vietnam, the meetings gained positive results, promoting again trade cooperation programs, integration and comprehensive development. According to Chilean President Michelle Bachelet, Vietnam showed wonderful organization of meetings, not only in infrastructure but also the quality of working agenda and the quality of delegates.
Among the most highly-anticipated topics during the APEC Year 2017 is the future of the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement, after the US withdrew from the historic agreement. Many difficulties were reported in efforts to revive an 11-member TPP. The patience of all 11 members, with the coordination of the host Vietnam, has brought results at the last minute when all 11 members officially adopted the agreement. Under the new name of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), the agreement looks towards good deeds.
The presence at the same time of leaders from 21 APEC member economies in Da Nang city, together with over 2,000 delegates and businesses, and nearly 3,000 journalists, made Vietnam a focus of the regional and world public. Throughout over 30 years of renewal process and 20 years of APEC membership, and hosting APEC for the second time, Vietnam proves its new position and strength as an active and responsible member of the regional and global cooperation mechanism, and an important link of many leading regional economic chains.
The results gained during the APEC Economic Leaders’ Week and APEC Year 2017 suit Vietnam’s targets and priorities, contributing to promoting the implementation of the country’s socio-economic development strategy by 2020, for a peaceful and stable Vietnam, with sustainable development, bringing benefits for residents and businesses./.