Da Nang, Vietnam, Nov 7 (Prensa Latina) At the threshold of the Summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Forum, the precedent events have clearly tilted to follow the courses of multilateralism, free trade and integration.
That marked trend was expressed by the APEC Council of the Senior Official Meeting at a press conference to present the results of two days of work in this coastal city in Vietnam.
Vietnamese Deputy Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son explained that as a result of debates by more than 50 APEC committees and working groups, they agreed to validate the motto of the APEC Week and its related events, including the Summit: 'Creating a new dynamism, boosting a shared future'.
The Council evaluated the strategies to achieve integration and equitable growth to be implemented by the APEC economies (Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, China, South Korea, United States, Philippines, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Russia, Singapore, Thailand, Taiwan and Vietnam).
To that effect, the APEC will prioritize sustainable and inclusive growth, regional economic interconnection, the strengthening of micro, small and medium enterprises, food security and the practice of sustainable agriculture adapted to the demands from climate change.
Thanh Son pointed out that the majority of APEC top officials also favored free trade, the facilitation of investments and support for the multilateral commercial system.
The APEC was founded in 1989 with the express purpose of taking advantage of the growing interdependence of the region's economies, which account altogether for 59 percent of the world's Gross Domestic Product and 48 percent of world trade.
Asked about the future of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) after the withdrawal of the United States, the Vietnamese deputy foreign minister noted that it is one of many possible mechanisms of cooperation, but at the same time, he ratified his country's will to continue to support it.
Vietnam's participation in the TPP shows the independent and diversified diplomatic line of our country, he noted.
The TPP was signed in February 2016 by Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, Vietnam and the United States.
Source: Plenglish
Key words: multilateralism, free trade, integration, apec summit
