A session of the 27th APEC Ministerial Meeting on November 16 (Photo: AFP/VNA)
Manila (VNA)ꦕ – The 27th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Ministerial Meeting wrapped up in Manila, the Philippines, on November 17 after two working days under the theme “Inclusive Growth through Sustainable and Resilient Communities”.
Foreign and economic/trade ministers of the 21 member economies discussed measures boosting APEC cooperation in coping with challenges to the promotion of inclusive growth. They stressed that the forum needs to implement concrete programmes and projects and work together to maintain regional peace, stability, prosperity and development.
In particular, APEC should focus on enhancing collaboration in climate change response, disaster risk mitigation, energy and food security, agricultural cooperation, environmental protection, urbanisation, and human resources development. The member economies also need to pay more heed to vulnerable groups such as women, persons with disabilities and the elderly.
The ministers agreed to step up sharing experience in and information about anti-terrorism within APEC in the wake of a series of recent attacks in France’s Paris.
At the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh noted that complex developments continued in the region and the world this year. However, the regional and international communities have gained new momentums for and renewed trust in trends towards cooperation, connectivity and sustainable development.
He highlighted that the United Nations member countries approved the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and are working towards a new global agreement aimed to cope with climate change that is hoped to be reached at a conference this December. Additionally, the Asian-Pacific region has also taken the lead in global growth and economic connectivity.
He emphasised that APEC needs to boost inclusive growth in association with building sustainable and resilient communities that centre on people.
The forum’s members should prioritise strengthening ties to eliminate poverty; narrow the development gap; ensure food, water and energy security; respond to natural disasters; and conduct search and rescue, Minh added.
The Vietnamese official suggested them foster economic and technical cooperation to help improve the developing economies’ capacity while reinforcing affiliation in education, vocational training, health care and women empowerment.
He asked APEC to continue bringing into play its role as the driving force for regional growth and economic connectivity through assisting initiatives linking sub-regions, and advocating Greater Mekong Sub-region cooperation programmes and the ASEAN Community’s centrality.
At the APEC Ministerial Meeting, participants also completed preparations for the 23rd APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting, scheduled to begin on November 18.
The APEC forum is one of the leading multilateral cooperation mechanisms in the region as well as to Vietnam. The country joined APEC in November 1998 and successfully hosted APEC events in 2006. It will once again organise APEC meetings in 2017 and is actively gearing up for the activities.-VNA
Vietnam has played an active role in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum and is set to continue constructive performance at the approaching 23rd APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting.
Ministers from 21 economies of the APEC forum gathered in Manila, the Philippines on November 16 for a two-day meeting to discuss cooperation on anti-terrorism and regional free trade initiatives.
Vietnam supports APEC priorities on strengthening regional linkages and connectivity, especially efforts to fulfil the Bogor Goals and realise a free trade area in Asia-Pacific (FTAAP).
Of the 21 economies of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum (APEC), Vietnam, Indonesia, Peru and Papua New Guinea have pioneered the concept on “development goods”,
The DES Ministry will seek cooperation from social media platforms to prevent the spread of fake news and monitor accounts related to such activities, he told reporters after chairing a meeting of the newly established Anti-Fake News Centre (AFNC).
The Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking identified the US tariff reduction as a significant driver behind the improved economic outlook for Thailand.
Financial institutions and financial technology (fintech) players are intensifying their focus on expanding across the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), adopting tailored strategies to strengthen their presence in the region’s digital financial services landscape.
Featuring a permanent exhibition area, the ASEAN Hall will function both as a cultural showcase and as a dynamic venue for ASEAN-related events and programmes. Its inauguration on ASEAN Day added symbolic weight, marking a fresh milestone in ASEAN–RoK relations.
Thailand’s Ministry of Commerce and rice exporters are devising strategic plans to boost rice exports amid global market fluctuations, focusing on key markets and adjusting output.
The focus of the upcoming ASEAN Summit in October will be on strengthening economic relations through intra-regional trade and investment, as well as regional initiatives on energy networks and connectivity.
Indonesian Ambassador Rina P. Soemarno, who currently serves as Chair of the ASEAN Committee in Prague, emphasised the spirit of regional solidarity and cooperation, and the importance of enhancing ASEAN–Czech Republic relations.
The Indonesian Government is determined to seize opportunities to enhance the competitiveness of national agricultural products, an official has said, adding that it always strives to promote exports at the highest possible level, based on a mutually beneficial foundation.
Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira has outlined a six-point strategy to promote innovation, support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and push for Thailand's removal from the US Trade Representative (USTR)’s special 301 Watch List regarding intellectual property rights protection among trading partners.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Israel Ly Duc Trung emphasised ASEAN’s central role in regional mechanisms such as the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and the East Asia Summit (EAS), highlighting its significant contribution to promoting peace, stability, and prosperity in Southeast Asia.
The consumer index of the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC), fell to 51.7 in July from 52.7 in the previous month. The sluggish economy and the trade war, as well as high living costs, continue to undermine confidence, the university said.
Deputy Speaker of the Hungarian National Assembly Istvan Jakab expressed his hope for further deepening Hungary’s ties with ASEAN countries and called for their support for Hungary’s accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia.
The 30-storey tower crumbled seconds after a 7.7-magnitude earthquake hit neighbouring Myanmar on March 28. The partially built high-rise, meant to house the State Audit Office (SAO), was the only building in Thailand to collapse, killing 89 people on the site, mostly construction workers.
Indonesia’s waste generation is projected to exceed 50 million tonnes in 2025. Of the total, more than 20 million tonnes could potentially enter the ocean through rivers, coastal areas, small islands, ports, and marine activities, and thereby, pose a risk to coastal ecosystems and marine biota.
Indonesia is accelerating plans to increase lithium imports, particularly from Australia, in a bid to fill gaps in the electric vehicle (EV) battery supply chain and realise its ambition of becoming a global EV manufacturing hub.
Malaysia’s gross expenditure on R&D (GERD) reached 1.01% of gross domestic product in 2022, a notable increase, with more than 51% contributed by the industry sector. The country is targeting GERD to reach 2.5% by 2030, in line with the national goal of transforming into a high-technology nation.
The facility was established in response to a growing shift in the Filipino labour force from the Middle East to Japan, where workers are seeking safer working environments.
In the latest Indonesia-US trade agreement in July, the US administration agreed to reduce the reciprocal tariff, which was initially set at 32% by US President Donald Trump last April, to 19%.
Real estate agency ERA Singapore estimated that there are 2,703 condo developments in Singapore today, of which 836 or 31% are at least 30 years old. In 10 years, this number is expected to climb to 1,160, assuming none is sold en bloc.
A session of the 27th APEC Ministerial Meeting on November 16 (Photo: AFP/VNA)
