- APEC 2017: Int'l media appreciate Vietnam’s role, contributions
- Traffic Police Force successfully fulfills the APEC Summit Week 2017 mission
- Ceremonial costume and gift for leaders at APEC 2017: The essence of Vietnam’s traditional crafts
- Vietnamese student receives APEC 2017 VOF’s leadership award
Beautiful image of a dynamic economy
At any press conferences held on the sidelines of the APEC Summit Week 2017 in Da Nang from 6-11 November, all participating leaders of 21 APEC member economies emphasized the outstanding role of Vietnam as the host of APEC 2017.
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| All participating leaders of 21 APEC member economies emphasized the outstanding role of Vietnam as the host of APEC 2017. |
According to Russian President Vladimir Putin, the preparations of both contents and logistics made by tens of thousands of people throughout the year of Vietnam have made up the success of APEC events.
The Russian President also emphasized that Vietnam had elicited the practicality and importance of the topics, especially the digital economy, discussed at this year’s APEC meetings,.
Regarding other issues discussed at the summit, such as fight against terrorism, energy market forecasts, efforts for trade liberalization, and APEC development prospect, President Vladimir Putin said that Vietnam had tried its utmost to make the APEC 2017’s events go smoothly, and played a big role in promoting regional economic cooperation.
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| International Monetary Fund (IMF) President Christine Lagarde |
Sharing the same view, International Monetary Fund (IMF) President Christine Lagarde said, that Vietnam is an open economy. But its service sector should integrate further into the world market.
She stressed that Vietnam had been right as it focused on international trade, especially when 60% of the regional trade volume was between Asian economies. Vietnam had successfully shown its leadership in APEC 2017, especially in TPP-11, said the IMF's head.
With major effort of Vietnam and Japan, ministers of the remaining 11 original signatories to the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreed on “core elements” of a new trade pact to be implemented without the United States. The agreement will now be called the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).
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| With major effort of Vietnam and Japan, ministers of the remaining 11 original signatories to the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreed on “core elements” of a new trade pact to be implemented without the United States. |
According to the IMF’s head, the theme of APEC 2017 "Creating new dynamism, fostering a shared future” with four priorities proposed by Vietnam (sustainable, innovative and inclusive growth; regional economic connectivity; improving the competitiveness of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs); food security and the development of sustainable farming in response to climate change) were discussed at hundreds of meetings throughout the APEC year and became clearer at the APEC Summit.
Attending the APEC Summit in Vietnam for the 2nd time (2006 in Hanoi and 2017 in Da Nang), Chilean President Michelle Bachelet noted, "Vietnam plays an important role in promoting the implementation of key APEC contents. Vietnam has well organized all events of APEC 2017. "
A delegate from Papua New Guinea, the host country of APEC 2018, Ivan Bayagau said, they are trying to learn valuable experience from Vietnam to organize APEC 2018 events."
It is noteworthy that not only delegates but also international media highly appreciated the successful APEC 2017 chairmanship of Vietnam. Many articles and reports praised the APEC 2017 host economy for its thoughtfulness, professionalism and responsibility.
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| Delegates at a CEO Summit's working session. |
In an article published in The Economic Times (India), the author noted that Vietnam is one of the fastest growing economies amid the global economic recession.
As the host economy of APEC 2017, Vietnam managed to harmonize interests of APEC member economies, seek common grounds to bridge differences and promote cooperation among APEC members.
Vietnam is also regarded as an economy of reforms, an Algerian press agency notes, with the expectation of accelerating sustainable growth in the Asia-Pacific, the host economy stressed the need for APEC member economies to "seek for new dynamisms, aiming to foster sustained growth, deepening regional synergies and cooperation, and, above all, achieving the main APEC goals - the Bogor goals in terms of free trade and investment by 2020 ".
Over the past years, Vietnam has implemented cooperative programs, fostered a favorable investment environment, and streamlined administrative procedures in line with the rules of the region’s trade game.
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| Reporters at an APEC's event. |
In addition to in-depth analyses, the Malaysian press highly appreciated Vietnam's inclusive development achievements. Notably, the Malay Mail Online had an article saying that APEC had supported Vietnam to promote innovation and inclusiveness and highlighted the events of APEC 2017 in Vietnam as well as Vietnam’s achievements after more than thirty years of “Doi moi”.
Meanwhile, The Inquirer (the Philippines), citing Wayne Golding Obe, Chairman of the APEC Business Advisory Council, said that Vietnam is one of the fastest growing economies in the Asia-Pacific region and Vietnam is proving to the world and APEC members that Vietnam is developing and integrating itself into the world.
An article with the headline "Vietnam and the new economic order in the Asia-Pacific" posted at Acercandonaciones.com (Argentina) reports that Vietnam plays an important role as a diplomatic mediator in the talks for the TPP and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).
“Vietnam is determined to further promote trade penetration in the region, while identifying trade order conditions of the Asia-Pacific. With its preparations throughout this year and the APEC Economic Leaders’ Week, the country wants to show the world that it is up to the challenges,” the article added.
In another article posted at Medium.com, an Argentine e-news, highlighted Vietnam’s remarkable economic potential amid global challenges. According to this page, Vietnam is now one of the most attractive destinations for foreign investors.
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| Reporters at the APEC International Media Center. |
Titled “APEC 2017: Vision and new position of Vietnam”, an article on the Cambodia’s daily Kampuchea Thmey emphasized that, through the APEC Year 2017, Vietnam has reconfirmed its dynamic, pioneering role and responsibility as a member of the top important economic forum in the Asia-Pacific region.
The support and active participation of APEC member economies, regional and international organizations, and especially the presence of all 21 APEC economies’ leaders in Danang has helped Vietnam promote its "soft power", underscored the Cambodian paper.
And professional security work
Regarding the work of ensuring security and safety for the APEC High-level Week, many APEC delegates highly appreciated and admired the professionalism of Vietnamese security forces, who contributed to the success of the APEC Summit Week by ensuring absolute safety and security for APEC events and delegates during the week.
Alan Bolard, Executive Director of the APEC Secretariat, told reporters that he was so impressed by the Da Nang's people in particular and the Vietnam’s people in general.
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| Security forces, including the military and police, were arranged into multi-layer security circles to protect the press center around the clock. |
During his week-long stay in Danang, he said he realized that all issues of security, logistics and venues for the APEC high-level events had well been prepared by Vietnam. Vietnamese security officers were serious in their work, but also very friendly to delegates.
Gasco CEO Nicolas Grzegorczyn noted that his company had had no business in Vietnam, but after the APEC summit, he would considering investing in the country.
The Vietnamese Government has greatly improved its policy to attract more investment. At the APEC CEO Summit, he said, he saw many advantages such as good security condition. The good security condition of Vietnam could lead investors to a safe felling when deciding to pour capital into the country, he stressed.
With a good deal of coverage about APEC security issues, many foreign newspapers took the great security of the APEC International Press Center as a good example.
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| Security forces, including the military and police, were arranged into multi-layer security circles to protect the press center around the clock. |
Accordingly, security forces, including the military and police, were arranged into multi-layer security circles to protect the press center around the clock.
A number of security measures were comprehensively and synchronically implemented during the APEC Summit Week. The forces set up a security checkpoint with a modern electronic screening system at the center to screen people, equipment, machinery and personal belongings to ensure absolute safety of the press center.
The security check process was carried out strictly but very professionally and quickly, so that neither traffic jams nor disorder was seen at the entrance of the APEC International Press Center.
Agencia Efe News's reporter Eric San Juan Harnandez said all of his colleagues were impressed by Vietnam’s security work from the moment they arrived at Da Nang airport.
Vietnamese security personnel were deployed everywhere so foreign correspondents felt safe at the APEC International Press Center, said Eric San Juan Harnandez.
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| Vietnamese security personnel were deployed everywhere so foreign correspondents felt safe at the APEC International Press Center |
A number of British, Australian and American newspapers also highlighted the peaceful environment in Vietnam. The newspapers narrated the visit of Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull to a local "banh my" restaurant in Da Nang city on November 11.
In their articles, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull had "banh my" for his breakfast with Australian-Vietnamese celebrity chef Luke Nguyen at a local street food restaurant before his busy day with events of the APEC Economic Leaders’ Week. He was completely comfortable while walking with only a few guards in Danang streets.
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| Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull had "banh my" for his breakfast with Australian-Vietnamese celebrity chef Luke Nguyen |
On the afternoon of November 11, after US President Donald Trump leaving Da Nang to Hanoi to begin a State-level visit to Vietnam, reporters saw an American secret service agent shaking hands with a Vietnamese security officer and expressing his thanks to the Vietnamese security forces for their cooperation in ensuring the safety of President Trump during the APEC Summit Week in Da Nang," wrote the Russian newspaper Sputnik.
