The central theme of APEC Leaders Week 2023 will be “Creating a resilient and sustainable future for all”, and according to Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Minh Hang, President Vo Van Thuong will call for unity to the business community to overcome challenges and seize opportunities to promote sustainable development.

The Asia-Pacific region and APEC are important priorities in Vietnam’s foreign policy in its aim to boost multilateral diplomacy, protect and promote security interests, and uplift the country’s position, Vietnamese media reported.

Nguyen Minh Hang highlighted in statements to the press that Vietnam’s contribution to the APEC in all sectors is active, responsible and effective.

Vietnam has left many important traces in the regional forum process, the vice minister said, and recalled that joining the Forum in 1988 constituted a strategic decision in international economic integration that contributed to both national and regional development.

She stated that Hanoi held the APEC presidency on two other occasions (2006 and 2017) and initiated nearly 150 cooperation projects in various spheres such as human resources development, adaptation to climate change, electronic commerce, food security and empowerment of women, which made it possible to improve the role, position and reputation of Vietnam in the international arena. The vice minister also pointed out that Vietnam knew how to make the most of partnership opportunities, and the resources and cooperation mechanisms at the service of its socioeconomic development.

Minh Hang asserted that the San Francisco meeting has an important meaning in the current complicated international context, in which there are traditional and unconventional security challenges, as well as risks and challenges, but also great opportunities for collaboration and development, which requires APEC members to strengthen dialogue and cooperation to turn challenges into opportunities in favor of recovery and sustainable development.

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