Hanoi (VNA) - Vietnam expects APEC to continue affirming its roleas a key forum for economic cooperation and linkages, promoting economic growthof the region and the world, and asserting the important role ofmultilateralism and multilateral cooperation, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs DangHoang Giang has said.

Talking with the press about President Nguyen Xuan Phuc’s attendance atthe 28th APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting via videoconference on November 11-12 at the invitation of New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, Giang said that in 2021, despite adverse impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic,the APEC cooperation process has been still promoted. The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum has continued to affirm itsimportant role in ensuring a free and open trade and investment environment,support the multilateral trading system, step up regional economic connectivityand linkages, and promote new cooperation in digital economy and digitaltransformation, he said.

APEC has paid great attention to efforts to promote the role ofwomen, support micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), and vulnerablegroups in the economic recovery process. In addition, APEC members have activelyexchanged and discussed specific measures to effectively implement the APEC PutrajayaVision 2040, which was approved by APEC leaders last year.

Vietnam has closely coordinated with the host New Zealand and APECmembers, strongly promoted cooperation and contributed to APEC's agenda in2021. As a key country in building the APEC Putrajaya Vision 2040, Vietnam has activelyparticipated in building a plan to effectively implement the vision.In particular, the country has also made strong commitments and taken specificactions in APEC cooperation to respond to climate change.

Giang expressed his hope that through the 28th APECLeaders' Week, APEC will set forth solutions, promote cooperation in coping with the COVID-19 pandemic, create new motivations, accelerate economic recovery, andbring the region back to sustainable and inclusive growth.

President Phuc is scheduled to participate inthe 28th APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting on November 12 and a dialogue betweenAPEC leaders and the APEC Business Advisory Council on November 11. He willdeliver a pre-recorded speech at the APEC CEO Summit on November 11 - 12.

2021 is the first year Vietnam has implemented thesocio-economic development plan for 2021 - 2025 and moved to a stage ofcomprehensive and extensive integration into the world. The State leader’sparticipation in the APEC Economic Leaders' Week will help raise Vietnam’s stature inmultilateral activities, including those of APEC, and help the country makeactive and effective contributions to the building of a plan for implementingthe APEC Vision 2040./.