A workshop entitled “Preparing for APEC 2027: Strengthening Organisational and Coordination Capacity” opened in Hanoi on the morning of October 1, bringing together representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the US Embassy in Vietnam, the APEC Secretariat, experts and relevant agencies.
The two-day workshop, held on October 1–2, focuses on key aspects of preparing for and hosting APEC 2027, particularly coordination between Vietnam’s APEC 2027 National Secretariat, subcommittees, ministries, agencies and local authorities, and the APEC Secretariat.
Three levels of coordination to achieve two key goals
Speaking to the media on the sidelines of the workshop, Standing Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Vu said hosting APEC 2027 is one of Vietnam’s major multilateral diplomatic undertakings, with two key goals.
First, as host, Vietnam seeks to help advance APEC’s core agenda, including facilitating trade and investment, promoting sustainable growth and improving productivity, thereby creating more business and employment opportunities for people across the Asia-Pacific region.
Hosting APEC also offers Vietnam an opportunity to demonstrate its responsibility in addressing regional and global issues while showcasing the country and its people. For localities hosting APEC events, it is a chance to introduce their distinctive cultures, communities and destinations to international friends.
According to Deputy Minister Vu, coordination is particularly important to achieving these goals and is being carried out at three levels.
The first involves coordination at the central level among the APEC 2027 National Committee, the APEC 2027 National Secretariat, ministries, agencies and five subcommittees responsible for security, logistics, culture, communications and protocol.
The second involves coordination between central agencies and the authorities and relevant agencies in localities hosting APEC events.
The third involves coordination between Vietnam, as the APEC 2027 host, and the APEC Secretariat and member economies.
The Deputy Minister stressed that smooth and effective coordination at all three levels would help ensure that the agenda is implemented seamlessly, contributing to Vietnam’s goals for APEC 2027.
Strengthening the capacity of officials working on international integration
Regarding human resource preparations, Deputy Minister Vu said Vietnam has established an organisational structure with clearly defined responsibilities, from the APEC 2027 National Committee and National Secretariat to the five supporting subcommittees.
Officials experienced in multilateral diplomacy, particularly those involved in organising APEC events in Vietnam in 2006 and 2017, have been mobilised to support preparations and coordination.
However, each APEC hosting year brings different requirements in terms of scale and expectations and takes place against a different regional and international backdrop. Training, professional development and the continuous updating of officials’ knowledge and experience are therefore essential, he said.
Vietnam has also received close cooperation from the APEC Secretariat and member economies throughout the preparations.
“They have high expectations that Vietnam will once again demonstrate leadership. They also recognise Vietnam as an influential member of APEC and one of the few members to host APEC three times,” Deputy Minister Vu said.
Partners have also expressed confidence that Vietnam’s preparations and determination, together with close cooperation and coordination among members, will ensure a successful APEC 2027, he added.
The Deputy Minister said preparations for APEC 2027 aim to ensure the successful hosting of a major year of multilateral diplomacy and to strengthen the capabilities and expertise of Vietnam’s officials working on international integration, enabling them to meet the demands of the country’s new stage of development.
