APEC 2017 puts Vietnam in the world spotlight

(Baonghean) - Hosting events within the framework of APEC is a golden opportunity for the host economy to affirm its position in the international arena. The success in all aspects of the most prominent foreign affairs event of 2017 has brought Vietnam to the center of the world.

APEC leaders after the summit. Photo: Internet

Outstanding foreign affairs achievements

Assessing the events within the framework of the APEC Year just passed, with the highlight being the Summit Week taking place from November 6-11 in Da Nang, Politburo member, President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Chairman of the 25th APEC Summit Tran Dai Quang affirmed: “This is an outstanding foreign policy achievement of our entire Party, people and army this year, contributing to enhancing the role of APEC as the leading economic cooperation mechanism in the region in a rapidly changing world with turning-point changes”.

That's right, 10 years after the first hosting of APEC Year 2006, Vietnam took over the role of host of APEC Year 2017. This international-scale event is even more meaningful as this is the year that the host economy Vietnam celebrates many milestones in the field of foreign affairs, closely following the orientation of improving the quality and effectiveness of multilateral foreign affairs, proactively and actively contributing to building and shaping multilateral institutions as set forth by the Party Congress. For this important event to take place smoothly, the preparation work has been very active and synchronous for nearly 3 years. Thanks to that, APEC Year 2017 in Vietnam has been successful, even exceeding the expectations of many people, leaving strong impressions.

Speaking to the press, Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh highlighted the impressive figures of APEC Vietnam Year 2017 in general and APEC Summit Week 2017 in particular. Over the past decade, this is one of two Summit Weeks attended by most senior leaders of member economies. There were 21,000 delegates attending APEC Year activities, of which over 11,000 were in the Summit Week alone. Meanwhile, the Business Summit had a record number of delegates, over 2,000 compared to about 1,000-1,500 in previous conferences, demonstrating the business community's interest in economic issues in the region. Not only that, the number of journalists working during the Summit Week reached nearly 3,000, thereby demonstrating the interest of regional and world media in the most important event of APEC Year 2017. In terms of economy, through visits and bilateral meetings, 121 agreements worth more than 20 billion USD were signed, bringing opportunities to people and businesses. Within the framework of APEC 2017, the host country Vietnam also had the initiative to organize the Vietnam Business Forum, attracting more than 2,000 businesses, including 850 domestic businesses, creating a ripple effect on the economy, investment environment... Therefore, it can be said that APEC Year 2017, and especially the Summit Week in Da Nang, was successful, bringing Vietnam to the center of global attention.

President Tran Dai Quang and APEC economic leaders in Da Nang. Photo: Internet

Affirming Vietnam's position

APEC 2017 has ended with good impressions in the hearts of international friends. The echoes of a dynamic, hospitable, peaceful Vietnam with strengths and potentials in economy, investment, business, tourism... will certainly remain long in the minds of the delegates attending. Almost all the guests asked gave sincere compliments to the host economy, for example, Chilean President Michelle Bachelet, in her second time attending the APEC Summit Week in Vietnam, sincerely assessed: "Vietnam has shown its excellent organizational capacity not only in terms of infrastructure, but also in terms of the quality of the working programs and the quality of the delegates... Throughout the past year, Vietnam has well organized the events of APEC Year 2017". Or as Russian leader Vladimir Putin also commented: “Evaluating the organization, Vietnam did everything to make the conference effective and successful. The conference paid much attention to economic issues, the issues discussed were very practical and of interest to members of the APEC economy.”

Equally noteworthy, the recent APEC Summit Week has created conditions for Vietnam to consolidate and deepen its relations with other members, through state visits and landmark bilateral meetings. Among them, a special event was when in just one day, Vietnam warmly and respectfully welcomed two heads of state from the world's two leading economies: US President Donald Trump paid an official visit to Vietnam in the first year of his term and Chinese General Secretary and President Xi Jinping made his first state visit to Vietnam after the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China.

Thus, Vietnam has successfully fulfilled its role as APEC host, demonstrating its position and contributing to raising the level of the regional forum. This is the best foundation for the Vietnamese economy to continue to accompany APEC members in the coming time, to cooperate to the maximum to realize the commitments made, to work together to build the APEC Vision towards 2020 and beyond, for a sustainable and inclusive Asia-Pacific partnership in the 21st century.

Thu Giang