San Francisco, United States: President Vo Van Thuong delivered a compelling message on the future of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) at the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting that commenced on November 17 in San Francisco. His address emphasized the importance of openness, strategic vision, and community support in APEC’s continued success.
According to Vietnam News Agency, APEC, as a premier forum for regional cooperation, owes its success to several key factors. These include the openness and goodwill among members to overcome differences and find common ground, the strategic foresight of past leaders in defining the role of Asia-Pacific and APEC, and the consistent support from the business community and the public. Regarding APEC’s future operations, he underscored the need to maintain and strengthen achievements in trade and investment liberalization and facilitation. He also emphasized the necessity of creating frameworks to help member economies capitalize on development opportunities and foster growth, alongside building a resilient region and economies prepared to meet various challenges.
President Thuong also called for open, sincere, and constructive dialogue among APEC members to enhance understanding, bridge differences, and build consensus. Marking 25 years of Vietnam’s participation in APEC, he expressed the country’s aspiration to continue contributing to the APEC process and proposed that Vietnam host the APEC Year 2027 activities. This proposal received strong endorsement from other APEC leaders and was included in the meeting’s joint statement.
The meeting saw delegates reflect on 30 years of APEC cooperation, setting directions for the future. They acknowledged the forum’s significant role in boosting global economic growth in recent decades. Commitments were made to foster a free, open, transparent, and inclusive trade and investment environment, maintain market openness, and address supply chain disruptions. The leaders reaffirmed their support for the rules-based multilateral trade system centered around the World Trade Organisation and emphasized the need for a non-discriminatory digital ecosystem.
Key agreements included efforts to reduce and eliminate fossil fuel subsidies, accelerate the shift to clean energy, and achieve the global goal of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions. The meeting also resulted in the approval of principal guidelines on just energy transition and food security, an action plan for natural risk reduction, and the acceleration of the biogreen circular economy model. These initiatives aim to integrate sustainable and inclusive elements into APEC activities.
President Vo Van Thuong, accompanied by his wife and the high-ranking Vietnamese delegation, concluded their visit to the United States and departed from San Francisco on the evening of November 17, marking the end of their participation in the APEC Economic Leaders’ Week.