APEC 2014 theme is Shaping the future through partnerships in Asia-Pacific
5/11
morning, the Conference of Senior Officials (CSOM) of the Economic
Cooperation Forum Asia - Pacific (APEC) was officially opened at the
National Convention Center, Beijing, China Korea, which led to weeks of APEC Summit 2014 will last until the end of December 11/11.
With
the theme "Shaping the future through partnerships the Asia-Pacific",
cap APEC Summit this year is particularly important significance, marks
25 years of cooperation perform APEC goals liberalization,
trade convenience - investment and economic and technical cooperation,
the leaders of 21 member economies of APEC will focus on discussion of
measures to strengthen intra-regional connectivity, promoting formation
zone free trade in Asia - Pacific (FTAAP), and measures to promote economic growth in the region.
APEC: objectives and achievements
Economic
Forum Asia - Pacific, abbreviated to APEC, which was founded in 1989 to
accelerate economic growth, prosperity and strengthening regional
community in Asia - Pacific. Initially,
only APEC is a forum for intergovernmental discussion on regional
economic issues and activities on the basis of non-binding commitments,
open dialogue and equal respect for the views of the parties. Unlike
the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the multilateral trade
organization other APEC agreement obligations to the participants. The APEC decisions are made in the form of consensus and commitments are made on a voluntary basis.
Central
to achieving APEC's vision within the Bogor Goals, named after a
meeting called by the leaders at the summit in 1994 in Bogor, Indonesia,
is free and open to trade and investment in the Asia - Pacific region by 2010 for industrial economies and 2020 for developing economies. After
25 years of development, APEC has achieved many accomplishments in all
three pillars, namely the liberalization of trade and investment; business facilitation; and technical cooperation and economic. Become
a mechanism for economic cooperation intergovernmental level
Asia-Pacific region, APEC has played an irreplaceable role be in terms
of promoting freedom of trade and investment in the region, strengthening economic cooperation, technical cooperation between members etc ...
2014 is the 25th anniversary of the establishment of APEC, which is also the 20th anniversary of the Bogor Goals identified. At
the same time, this is six years after the global financial crisis, the
world economy has stabilized, enters a lower growth trajectory. With
the growth remains modest and challenging survival than expected, as
growth engines of the global economy of the Asia - Pacific region is
more meaningful and demanding need measures both individually and collectively to respond to these challenges.
In
the context of the world economic situation more difficult and enormous
challenges remain for each member as growth recovery is still slow,
rickety; unemployment remains high; imbalance in the supply and demand of skilled labor; social
unrest and many other potential risks, the need to encourage the
participation of social sectors of economic activity, to facilitate
small and medium enterprises, strengthen the contribution of women to
economic development and
promoting science, technology, creativity, cooperation against
corruption, social security, health ... This is the very practical
content ensuring sustainable growth and narrowing the development gap,
improve quality of life of the people, towards forming an Asia - Pacific
resilience, cohesion, equitable development, fair and sustainable.
APEC 2014: enhanced connectivity, shape the future
Connectivity
has become indispensable cooperation of APEC in the 21st century due to
the trend of globalization, the strong development of innovative
technology, digital technology and the rapid expansion of global supply
chains . Strengthening comprehensive connectivity and infrastructure development will lay the foundation for common prosperity. Connect
APEC framework are focused on practical areas, especially in connection
to investments and financing of infrastructure projects,
transportation, information technology, to facilitate travel within labor sector, education, tourism, responding to emergencies, develop
human resources and enhance the contribution of the business community.
With
public awareness need further promote economic structural reform,
facilitating creativity and enhance regional connectivity to ensure
economic development in the Asia-Pacific region, APEC Summit 2014 will
gather discuss
the issues more complex than in the past because the Asia Pacific
region is the role of the world's growth engine, and therefore, involves
many urgent issues to be addressed as the legacy of the global financial crisis, as well as expansion of trade in the region. Recently, APEC members have reached a consensus on further promoting
regional economic integration and launch the process of establishing
free trade area in Asia-Pacific.
"Shaping
the future through partners in Asia - Pacific" is the theme of the APEC
Summit 22 th, will be held in China in 2014. This is the second time
China hosted APEC Summit after 13 years. China as the host country for the Conference will not miss the opportunity to create certain effects. Therefore,
the main contents of the APEC summit in 2014 is to promote regional
economic integration through the discovery of new areas of development,
strengthening comprehensive connectivity in the region and promote trade
system multilateral trade.
China
also propose innovative development, economic reform and growth through
building an Asian market - Pacific open, inclusive and promote the
potential advantages, the dynamism and the
strength of the region and explore the practical possibilities for
cooperation in areas such as structural reforms to promote economic and
creative growth, extensive convergence of the industry chain and value
chain value, develop a green economy.
Vietnam: 15 years of participation in APEC
Officially joined APEC in 1998, Vietnam has gradually asserted its role in the organization of this important economic. The
official participation of Economic Cooperation Forum Asia - Pacific
(APEC) in 1998 marked an important step to implement the foreign policy
of openness, multilateralisation, diversification and economic
integration Vietnam's international. Looking
back at the process of participation of the Vietnam APEC, APEC can see
one of the forum is to bring practical benefits to the country and
improve the position of Vietnam in the international arena. Apec has contributed to improve the internal resources of the country
through the promotion of cooperation commitment helps to promote trade
and investment with the leading trading partner in the region.
The
host and successfully held APEC 2006 as well as Vietnam's participation
in the Forum has confirmed the positive contribution of Vietnam in the
international multilateral forums. APEC
is also an important channel to promote Vietnam bilateral cooperation
with the economies in the region through bilateral contacts at all
levels, particularly at the highest level at the annual Summit .
For
more than 15 years of participation in APEC, Vietnam has cooperated
actively with other members to promote cooperation mechanisms, linking
economic diversification, flexibility and efficiency in line with the
international competitive environment new . Vietnam
is one of the members actively participated in many proposals and new
initiatives, with more than 70 initiatives in almost all areas (trade,
investment, deal with emergencies, health, fight terrorism ....); and
has held several key positions in South APEC.Viet also continue to
participate in promoting the APEC priority areas in line with the
interests and concerns of our country, such as economic integration,
food security, disaster response, water resource management, sustainable protection of marine resources.
Rapid
changes and complexity of the current international context as well as
the urgent development needs of the country are posing requires further
strengthening the efficiency of APEC cooperation in particular and
international integration in general. Although
the consequences of the global financial crisis still persists,
contains many uncertainties and unpredictable, but in the long term, the
Asia - Pacific region remains dynamic economic development, rich potential, a young population and the unskilled. Many
major economies in the world is but the area but the main challenge
APEC is the diversity of levels of development, political systems,
cultures and religions among the members make a noticeable difference tells about the benefits and concerns in a number of areas of cooperation. The rise of non-traditional threats also pose new problems such as
human security, prevention of diseases and natural disasters, ensuring
secure business environment ...
To
take advantage of the opportunities and overcome the challenges, to
identify a number of strategic perspective as APEC is an important part
of the foreign policy of openness, multilateralisation and
diversification, proactive and active international integration. That
means that Vietnam should continue and further efforts in a positive
role and initiative in APEC, especially in the construction of the
principles and provisions of APEC and to serve the common good, has met the requirements of the development and the economic empowerment of the country. At the same time, resolute and skilful in negotiating a point to
maintain independence, autonomy, sovereignty and ensure maximum benefits
of Vietnam in APEC activities.
Apec,
also plays an important role in promoting the process of economic
reforms in the country, aimed at promoting economic growth and the
gradual narrowing of the member economies in APEC's development. To
do this, Vietnam should actively and positively involved in the areas
of strengths and interests, seriously implement the commitments in APEC.
At
the same time, incorporate and operate effective multilateralism with
bilateral, leveraging multilateral cooperation within APEC to improve
and promote the bilateral relations between Vietnam and the economy in
and outside APEC . At the same time, Vietnam also needs to strengthen bilateral
cooperation with members to strengthen and improve the efficiency of
multilateral cooperation within APEC.
Vietnam
has decided and are APEC members fully supported the APEC host for the
second time in 2017. It was decided to continue to implement the
proactive advocate strong and active international integration, can long-term vision of Vietnam for the Asia - Pacific. Within
this framework, the Government should have directed focus and unity,
requires close coordination, rhythm between ministries and agencies to
ensure the effective participation and consistency. At the same time, this requires adequate investment in human resources and to promote effective cooperation in APEC.
It
would be more practical contribution of Vietnam to contribute to
maintain the role and position of APEC, building an Asia - Pacific in
the 21st century resilience, dynamism and prosperity - increased
motivation global growth.
TS. Le Kim Sa
Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences