ASEAN high on APEC talks

Addressing the 18th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum (APEC) in Yokohama city, President Nguyen Minh Triet underscored the role of ASEAN’s economic integration in the Asia-Pacific and ASEAN’s efforts to build a sturdy APEC community, as well as Vietnam’s commitments to continue joining hands with other ASEAN’s member states to build an ASEAN community by 2015 and ASEAN’s efforts to materialise APEC’s targets.

With the theme “Change and Action”, the 18th APEC Summit centred on discussing growth strategy, human security and assessing the implementation of Bogor goals, regional economic integration and the Doha talks.

The event adopted the APEC leaders’ declaration and three important documents on an APEC growth strategy, assessment of Bogor goals progress and the way forward for greater regional economic integration after 2010.

Vietnam’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Gia Khiem emphasised a comprehensive action programme to help the region effectively implement its common growth strategy.

He tabled proposals on building APEC’s growth strategy, focusing on sustainable development with the interrelation of economic and social development and environmental protection.

The Vietnamese government affirmed it supported the construction of a new strategy related to reform to boost APEC’s growth strategy. However, structure reform needs to be flexibly implemented to benefit each APEC members.

Khiem said APEC should continue accelerating regional economic bonds to maintain its economic mojo.

Vietnam also advanced other proposals on accelerating the regional economic bonds.

For example, implementation of Bogor targets should continue to be considered as APEC’s preceded priority. The Bogor targets are removal of all barriers to trade and investment by 2010 for industrialised economies and 2020 for developing economies. These are practicable targets for the World Trade Organization.

Khiem said APEC needed to support member economies’ capacities so the targets could be met

by 2020.