Vietnamese President addresses 28th APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting

In his speech, President Phuc highlighted the need to adopt a new mindset and approach to bringing economies back to sustainable development, which requires them to overcome differences.

The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum needs to continue affirming its role as a driving force of the global economy, a hub of innovative ideas, he said, adding that APEC also needs to actively expand economic linkages for sustainable economic recovery and growth while upholding its guiding role in shaping the world economy in the post-pandemic period.

APEC’s focus should be given to effective pandemic prevention and control as well as taking the lead in building an Asia-Pacific model of green and inclusive growth to realise the Putrajaya Vision 2040, the President said.

Highlighting Vietnam’s contributions to the global common efforts for economic recovery, sustainable and inclusive growth and addressing common challenges, he affirmed that Vietnam will continue partnering with APEC member economies to materialise the vision of an open, peaceful, dynamic, resilient Asia-Pacific, for the sake of prosperity of each citizen and future generations.

President Phuc's proposals were highly appreciated and endorsed by APEC economic leaders, and reflected in the documents of the meeting.

The leaders discussed measures to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, accelerate economic recovery, and spark off new momentum towards innovative, sustainable and inclusive growth.

They reaffirmed their commitments to maintain and strengthen APEC's role as the region's leading forum on economic cooperation and connectivity, and pioneering in efforts to response to global challenges. APEC supports the global efforts for equal access to and sharing of vaccines, the expansion of vaccine production and supply, and the enhancement of health systems.

The leaders adopted a joint statement and endorsed the Aotearoa Plan of Action to implement the APEC Putrajaya Vision 2040, which was adopted at the 2020 APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting.

Also at the event, New Zealand handed over the chairmanship of APEC Year 2022 to Thailand.