Nhan Dan newspaper correspondent Pham Dao, who followed President Truong Tan Sang on his Beijing trip to attend the 22nd Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC) Economic Leaders’ Meeting, reviews the Vietnamese leader’s activities in China as well as the outcomes of the visit.
President Truong Tan Sang is among keynote speakers during a discussion as part of the 22nd APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in Beijing, China
The Vietnamese president and his entourage entered the Great Hall of the People in Beijing with solemn reception for heads of state attending the APEC Summit.
During talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping, the two leaders exchanged views on major directions to deepen Vietnam – China comprehensive strategic partnership. President Xi had positive feedback for President Sang’s proposal on specific measures aimed at strengthening ties between the two Parties and two countries in the future, as well as proposing that the two sides strengthen exchanges and stabilise directives for bilateral relations, in addition to deepening co-operation of mutual benefit.
Just hours after President Sang arrived in Beijing on November 9, he was welcomed by the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries Chairwoman Li Xiaolin. President Sang affirmed that the solidarity and friendship between the two peoples, nurtured by President Ho Chi Minh and Chairman Mao Zedong as well as generations of the two countries' leaders, have become a long tradition and valuable assets that should be promoted in the future. For her part, Li expressed her continued support to the two countries’ friendship associations.
The same day, during meetings with officials and employees at the Vietnamese Embassy in Beijing, the president reminded that while implementing bilateral agreements signed by the two nations, the embassy should better fulfill its task as a solid bridge for consolidating and strengthening solidarity, and the traditional friendship between the two peoples.
On the sidelines of the APEC meeting, President Sang also met with leaders of other APEC members ̶ Presidents of Indonesia, the US, the Philippines, Chile, and Peru, and Prime Ministers of Japan, Malaysia, Thailand, and Papua New Guinea ̶ to deepen bilateral relationship.
On November 9, President Sang met representatives of leading US enterprises attending the APEC CEO Summit, in which they called the President an intimate, trusted friend of the US business community. The US representatives suggested the Vietnamese president offer insights into Vietnam situation, the results and upcoming orientations of Vietnam in Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations, Vietnam’s current economic restructuring and growth model innovation, and its role and advantages in ASEAN. Their interest in Vietnam has affirmed the fact that Vietnam has always been an attractive destination for foreign investors amid a slower than expected global economic recovery.
Under the framework of APEC 22, President Sang was among special guests delivering speeches at a discussion on ‘Strengthening Comprehensive Connectivity and Upgrading Infrastructure’. In his inspirational speech that attracted the attention of more than 1,500 reputable corporations in Asia Pacific, he said that the region currently carries huge potential to accelerate connectivity for economic growth, thanks to the premise APEC has created after 25 years of development. APEC has always been a pioneer with a long-term vision representing the 1994 Bogor Declaration on trade and investment liberalisation and facilitation. A new generation of trade agreements with a larger scale and higher targets has been signed and is expected to strongly facilitate connection among APEC economies.
President Sang also highlighted ASEAN role and the bloc’s contributions to connection among economies in Asia Pacific. He called for more support for developing APEC members, especially in improving quality of human resources and addressing climate change and sea level rise, as well as for ASEAN members in implementing the ‘Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity’ and ongoing projects on infrastructure in the ASEAN and the Mekong Sub-region.
Leaders of business groups spoke highly of Vietnam's efforts in macroeconomic stabilisation and economic restructuring and proposed recommendations for Vietnam to develop a more attractive business environment for investors.
On November 11, leaders and representatives from the APEC member economies posed for a group photo at the Yanqi Lake International Convention Centre in Beijing, signaling the wrapping up of the 22nd APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting after they issued two declarations and four annexes shaping orientations for co-operation mechanism among APEC members.
After three days with about 26 activities, President Sang and Vietnamese high-ranking delegation have positively contributed to the APEC 22 agenda, promoting the implementation of several key issues of mutual concern among APEC members. APEC leaders also appreciated Vietnam’s suggestions, especially in promoting the need for maintaining peace and stability to regain the momentum of economic growth, co-operation and development.
APEC 22 opens up a new development path for an Asia Pacific of peace, stability, cohesion and prosperity.
NDO
