Da Nang (VNA) - Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang attended and delivered a speech at the plenary session of the Dialogue between APEC Economic Leaders and the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) in the central city of Da Nang on November 10. Following the full text of the speech.

REMARKS
BY H.E. MR.TRAN DAI QUANG, PRESIDENT OF THE SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF VIET NAM
AT THEPLENARY SESSION OF ABAC DIALOGUE WITH LEADERS

Ladies and gentlemen,

The Dialogue between APEC Economic Leaders and the APECBusiness Advisory Council (ABAC) members this year is of significant importance.It is time for us to find out new ways to sustain the role of APEC as a driverfor economic growth and integration at the global level and in the Asia-Pacific.It is also timely for us to build a new vision for APEC  as the Forum is entering its fourth decade ofdevelopment. For that reason, APEC Economic Leaders are ready to dialogue withthe business community ahead of the important Meeting tomorrow. Therecommendations and ideas presented by ABAC will provide an important basis forus to consider and make decisions on APEC’s future direction.

I highly value ABAC Report to APEC Economic Leaders  aspresented by Mr. Chair of ABAC 2017 and welcome the twenty specific recommendationsof the regional business community. It is my view that all of your recommendationsare very practical and important.

The issues that attract the attention of the businesscommunity, particularly regional economic integration, connectivity, boostingtrade and investment flows, MSMEs, inclusive growth, food security, APEC’spost-2020 vision, amongst others, are also issues of great concern for APECleaders to work out appropriate solutions and practical actions. Here, I wishto emphasize some specific points as follows:

First, economic integration,connectivity, trade and investment liberalization have been and will continueto be the top priorities for APEC cooperation. All APEC member economies arecommitted to accelerating the implementation to achieve the Bogor Goals, withgreater focus on services, investment and measures to reduce non-tariffbarriers. APEC will also expedite the implementation of adopted plans, notablythe APEC Connectivity Blueprint, the Supply-Chain Connectivity Framework, the ServicesCompetitiveness Roadmap. At the same time, APEC need to focus more on emergingissues, such as cross-border e-commerce, the road map on the internet anddigital economy, amongst others.

At the APEC Economic Leaders’ Retreat tomorrow, we willdiscuss the orientations to further expedite the efforts to achieve the BogorGoals, connect supply chains, strengthen the multilateral trading system,promote regional trade agreements and move towards the realization of a FreeTrade Area of the Asia – Pacific (FTAAP).

Second, weshare the business community’s concerns on the need to increase MSMEs’participation in global markets, improve businesses’ access to finance andenhance women’s economic empowerment. The greater participation of businessesin general and women entrepreneurs in particular will inject new impetus tofoster sustainable and inclusive growth. We are committed to developingeffective policy and legal frameworks to create a better environment for thebusiness community.

Third, your recommendations on accelerating economic, financial and social inclusion,achieving food and energy security, promoting quality workforces in the digitalage reflect the urgent issues to be addressed to ensure innovative, sustainableand inclusive growth. Since the beginning of this year, we have instructed APECofficials at all levels to focus on building long-term cooperation frameworksfor economic, financial and social inclusion, human resources development inthe digital age, food security in response to climate change and rural and urbandevelopment. These issues will also be in the agenda of tomorrow’s Meeting.

Fourth, Ihighly value the contributions made by the business community towards the ideaof an APEC post-2020 vision. APEC has been successful for the past threedecades. And the Forum is now at a pivotal juncture. I call on the businesscommunity to continue making active contributions and working with us toaccomplish the task to build a new vision for the APEC Forum in the decades tocome.
Ladiesand gentlemen,

We can be proud that APEC has become one of the mostsuccessful cooperation forums in connecting the governments with the businesscommunity. The APEC Business Advisory Council, together with the PacificEconomic Cooperation Council and APEC Voices of the Future have always been thecompanions of APEC throughout the past decades to make joint contribution towardsprosperous development of the Asia-Pacific.

Throughout the APEC Year 2017 in Viet Nam, the businesscommunity has made active contribution to all important APEC’s meetings. Many eventswithin the framework of APEC Meetings have been organized by businesses,notably the APEC Start-ups Forum, APEC Public-Private Dialogue on EnhancingCapacities of MSMEs, APEC Women Entrepreneurs Forum. The business community hasalso actively participated and proposed ideas at the discussions and dialogues,including those on APEC towards 2020 and beyond, inclusive growth, foodsecurity, and sustainable tourism, among many others.

Let us continue to uphold this close and effectivecooperation mechanism. I wish that the business community will continue to bethe government’s companion at this critical juncture and beyond. I firmlybelieve that your companionship will provide new impetus to realize APEC’sultimate goal for the benefit of people and businesses. 

I wish you very fruitful discussions.

Thank you for your attention./.