Vietnam vowed to work side by side with other members of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum in fostering regional economic integration toward the prosperity of the Asia-Pacific region, President Truong Tan Sang said at the first plenary session of the 23rd APEC Summit on November 19 in Manila, the Philippines.
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| President Truong Tan Sang (middle, first row) at the 23rd APEC Summit__Photo: VNA |
He called on APEC member economies to boost integration toward sustainable development goals and focus their cooperation on reducing poverty, development gaps and disaster risks; ensuring food security; and developing sustainable agriculture and green tourism.
The APEC economies should step up economic and technical cooperation, and support one another to improve the capacity of developing members, particularly in new-generation economy and trade, the President added.
Having great potential in economy, science and technology, the APEC members and enterprises should get more involved in sub-regional and regional integration schemes, notably the ASEAN and Mekong, he noted.
Sang welcomed the approval of the APEC Framework on Disaster Risk Reduction and the Action Plan on Food Security, affirming that they would contribute to implementing the Sendai Framework on Disaster Risk Reduction.
During the first plenary session, APEC leaders were firmly committed to achieving the Bogor Goals in 2020 toward the establishment of the Free Trade Agreement of the Asia-Pacific and developing the region as a driving force of regional and global connectivity.
They affirmed their support for multilateral trade and adopt measures to enhance quality development, reform and increase the participation of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises in global markets to boost growth.
Concluding the 23rd APEC Summit, the leaders adopted the Declaration on “Building Inclusive Economies, Building a Better World: A Vision for an Asia-Pacific Community”, with two annexes enclosed, including the APEC Strategy for Strengthening Quality Growth and the APEC Services Cooperation Framework.
They also endorsed the Statement on Supporting the Multilateral Trading System and the 10th WTO Ministerial Conference.- (VNS/VLLF)
