APEC 2017: Committees enter last working day before SOM1 kicks off
On March 1, the first APEC Senior Officials Meeting (SOM1) and related meetings entered the 12th working day - the last working day of APEC committees.
Khanh Hoa (VNA) – On March 1, the first APEC Senior Officials Meeting (SOM1) andrelated meetings entered the 12th working day - the last working dayof APEC committees before SOM1 begins its two-day gathering on March 2. As scheduled,there will be three meetings of APEC committees on March 1, including the SOMSteering Committee on ECOTECH (SCE) Meeting, the SOM Friends of the Chair(FotC) on Connectivity and the Policy Support Unit (PSU) Meeting. In the afternoon, APEC Secretariat Executive DirectorDr Alan Bollard and APEC Policy Support Unit Director Dr Denis Hew will have ameeting with the media to share their views on the context for the SOM1 and discuss the outlook for policycollaboration between Vietnam and other APEC economies movingforward. Being held in Nha Trang city, thesouth central coastal province of Khanh Hoa, from February 18 to March 3, the APEC SOM1 and relatedmeetings consist of 56 meetings, workshops and dialogues of 38 APEC committeesand working groups. Under the theme of “Creating New Dynamism, Fostering a SharedFuture,” the delegates have been discussing and reaching consensus on priorities and their contents for the 2017APEC Year on promoting sustainable, innovative and inclusive growth, regionaleconomic connectivity, competitiveness of micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in the digital era, food security, and climatechange adaptation. TheAPEC forum includes 21 member economies - Australia, Brunei, Canada,Chile, China, Hong Kong (China),Indonesia, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Malaysia,Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, the Philippines,Russia, Singapore, Chinese Taipei, Thailand, the United States and Vietnam - which together account for 39 percent of theworld’s population and make up 59 percent of the world’s gross domestic product(GDP) and 48 percent of the global trade.-VNA
Seven APEC committees and working groups held meetings on February 27 – the 10th day of the first APEC Senior Officials’ Meetings (SOM 1) and related events in Nha Trang city, Khanh Hoa province.
The SOM Steering Committee on Economic and Technical Cooperation (SCE) – Committee of the Whole (COW) convened its meeting in Nha Trang city, south central province of Khanh Hoa, on February 28.
A wide range of issues were deliberated during meetings held in Nha Trang, the central coastal province of Khanh Hoa, on February 28 within the framework of the first APEC Senior Officials Meeting (SOM1) and related meetings.
The Vietnamese Embassy advises the Vietnamese community living, studying, and working in Israel to strictly comply with directions from the Home Front Command and local authorities.
Lawmakers are set to vote on revisions and amendments to a broad spectrum of legal frameworks and impactful resolutions during the final week of the 15th NA's 9th session.
The State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs (SCOVA) has served as a bridge connecting and uniting the community with the homeland, becoming a trusted source of support for Vietnamese expats in times of hardship.
The programme to eliminate temporary and dilapidated houses has achieved notable results, with nearly 263,000 housing units addressed to date, including 225,000 houses inaugurated and 38,000 under construction. Thirty-eight provinces and cities across the nation have already fulfilled their targets.
Stronger efforts and determination are required to achieve and surpass the set targets, especially in the eradication of makeshift and dilapidated houses nationwide, the acceleration of public investment disbursement, and the implementation of nationally important transport projects, PM Pham Minh Chinh noted.
The trip will be made at the invitations of Chinese Premier Li Qiang and WEF President and CEO Børge Brende, according to an announcement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Long spoke highly of the dynamic, positive, and comprehensive development of Vietnam – Russia relations in recent years. He affirmed that the Vietnamese Party and State place great importance on further strengthening the comprehensive strategic partnership with Russia in a substantive and effective manner, in line with the development needs of both nations.
At the conference, participants reported that the Government has so far issued 28 decrees on the delegation of responsibilities and powers between the central Government and two-tier local administrations. Several localities have already piloted the new governance model.
Reality is the ultimate benchmark for success, he said, urging drafting agencies to work out policies that foster development, reduce bureaucratic hurdles, and respect practical conditions.
Under the official dispatch signed on June 20, ministers, heads of ministerial-level agencies, and chairpersons of provincial and municipal People’s Committees are requested to concentrate efforts on implementing core measures to ensure the smooth operations of the new administrative framework.
The Party chief underscored the need for the press to innovate relentlessly, evolve to keep pace with the country's development, transform into a truly professional, humanistic, and modern sector that serves the cause of the Party, the State, and the people on the path to national construction and development.
The UN Secretary-General praised Vietnam’s remarkable achievements in socio-economic development and international integration in recent years, noting that the country has emerged as a model in implementing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), promoting international peace and security, and engaging in key UN processes.
Nghia affirmed that this is a milestone of special significance, affirming and honouring the the Vietnamese revolutionary press’s glorious tradition of 100 years of serving the revolutionary cause of the Party, serving the Fatherland, and serving the people.
The Party and State of Vietnam always attach great importance to and give top priority to the development of Vietnam–China relations. Vietnam is ready to work with the Chinese Party and State to further deepen the Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership and promote the building of the Vietnam-China community with a shared future that carries strategic significance.
Under the leadership of President Ho Chi Minh and the CPV, President Cuong said, the press has been a steadfast force on the ideological and cultural front, rallying the masses to pursue national aspirations.
NA Chairman Tran Thanh Man stressed the need to accelerate the application of artificial intelligence and smart teaching equipment, innovate teaching and assessment methods, and further improve the quality of formal education.
He also pledged that the NA will promote its ongoing supervision, making sure that every promise must lead to results, and every commitment must bring about real changes.
Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien welcomed the proposals put forward by the US side and reiterated Vietnam’s request for consideration of key areas of interest, including reciprocal tariff policies and access for Vietnamese key export products to the US market.
APEC delegates pose for group photo (Photo: VNA) 
