Senior Officials’ Meeting kicks off 2017 APEC Economic Leaders' Week in Da Nang

The 2017 Asia- Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Week, hosted by the central Vietnamese city of Da Nang, officially commenced today, November 6, with the Concluding Senior Officials´ Meeting (CSOM).

Bui Thanh Son (central), Vietnam’s deputy minister of foreign affairs and chairman of the APEC 2017 Senior Officials´ Meeting, delivers the opening remark at the Concluding Senior Officials´ Meeting in Da Nang, central Vietnam, on November 6, 2017. Photo: THUAN THANG/TUOI TRE

The CSOM will take place on Monday and Tuesday, under the chair of Bui Thanh Son, Vietnam’s deputy minister of foreign affairs and chairman of the APEC 2017 Senior Officials´ Meeting. Son is scheduled to announce the CSOM results at a press conference on Tuesday afternoon at the International Medical Center in Da Nang.

The summit took place after the host city was hit by heavy rains over the weekend. “(But) after the rain, the sun rises,” deputy minister Son said, citing a common Vietnamese saying, in his opening remarks.

The deputy minister expressed his pleasure to welcome delegates again at the fourth, also the last and most important, SOM meeting in Da Nang.

Son said the two-day agenda of the event will focus on two key objectives: review the progress made toward the realization of the APEC visions this year, and finalizing the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) Declaration and the APEC Ministerial Meeting Statement.

Being held in conjunction with the CSOM is the APEC Voices of the Future forum and the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) meeting.

The Voices of the Future, the key platform for 'Youth Voice' at the annual APEC summit, is taking place from November 5 to 11, whereas the ABAC meeting is scheduled to wrap up three days of working today.

Delegates talk together ahead of the opening of the Concluding Senior Officials´ Meeting in Da Nang, central Vietnam, on November 6, 2017. Photo: THUAN THANG/TUOI TRE

APEC is a regional economic forum established in 1989 and comprised of 21 member states, including Australia, China, Japan, South Korea, Thailand, the United States, and Vietnam, among others.

The Economic Leaders’ Week, the culmination of Vietnam’s year-long hosting of APEC meetings, is taking place from November 6 to 11 in Da Nang, attended by some 12,000-14,000 delegates from 21 member economies.

This year’s APEC summit is held under the theme "Creating New Dynamism, Fostering a Shared Future."

Vietnam’s State President Tran Dai Quang will host the APEC Economic Leaders' Week key events, including the 25th APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting (AELM), the AELM Gala Dinner and Cultural Performance. He will also chair the ABAC Dialogue with APEC Economic Leaders, and the APEC - ASEAN Informal Dialogue on November 10 - 11.

President Quang will also deliver a keynote speech at the APEC CEO Summit, which is held from November 8 - 10.

The president's spouse, Nguyen Thi Hien, will host the Leaders' Spouse Program in Hoi An, Quang Nam and Da Nang on November 11.

The Viet Nam Business Summit, where Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc is expected to attend and deliver a keynote address, will also be organized on November 7.

Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh and Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Tuan Anh will chair the 29th APEC Ministerial Meeting on November 8./.

VNF/TTO