APEC 2017: Ministers adopt four initiatives

The information was released by Deputy Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh, who is Chairman of the APEC 2017 National Committee, at a press conference held in the International Media Centre on the same day.

They are the APEC Cross-border E-commerce Facilitation Framework, the APEC Strategy for Green, Sustainable and Innovative MSMEs, the Food Security and Climate Change Multi-Year Action Plan 2018-20 (MYAP), and the Action Plan on Rural-Urban Development to Strengthen Food Security and Quality Growth (AP).

According to Deputy PM Minh, the ministers affirmed their determination to maintain the APEC cooperation mechanism and discussed many concrete measures with which to boost trade and investment facilitation by implementing the Bogor Goals including; stepping up quality growth; enhancing investment connectivity, infrastructure development, and institutional reform; minimising disaster risks and increasing communities' resilience; and raising the members' international economic integration.

They also consented to creating a new momentum to contribute to maintaining Asia-Pacific as a driver for global economic growth amid the new trend of technology, globalisation and intensive connectivity.

The ministers emphasised the importance of accelerating structural reform, increasing productivity and supporting MSMEs, as well as equipping labourers with new skills to help them to adapt to jobs in the digital era, while ensuring food security, and developing agriculture and rural areas in response to climate change.

In addition, the ministers also agreed on a number of documents that direct APEC cooperation to be submitted to the APEC leaders. These documents focus on narrowing the development gap; ensuring economic, financial and social inclusion; opening new development potential for the region through promoting human resources development and high-quality education; and creating conditions for women and young people to engage in economic development and enjoy the benefits of free trade and sustainable growth.

Minh said that the adoption of these documents is a milestone for APEC collaboration in 2017.

He added that the ministers also agreed on the need to continue maintaining discussions on new cooperation directions for APEC.

Co-chairing the press conference, Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Tuan Anh said that the 29th AMM is greatly significant not only to Vietnam and the APEC economies but also to the international community.

The meeting represented the determination to support trade liberalisation in the Asia-Pacific region, as well as Vietnam's active contributions to the region and the world, he said, adding that the issues discussed and approved at the event will bring benefits to all of the APEC economies

The ministers highly valued the initiatives proposed by Vietnam, saying that they reflect the economy's active international integration policy, he said.

(Source: NDO)