Minh, who is also the Committee Chairman, said the APEC forum is a regional and global leading economic cooperation mechanism, and it holds a strategic importance in both political and economic terms to Vietnam.

Thirteen APEC members are strategic and comprehensive partners of Vietnam, and 13 of the country’s 15 free trade agreements are signed with APEC members. Meanwhile, about 78 percent of foreign direct investment in, 70 percent of trade with and 70 percent of tourists to Vietnam hail from APEC, he elaborated.

The hosting of APEC 2017 will not only help realise the extensive international integration policy but also intensify Vietnam’s comprehensive relations with partners, he said, noting that this is a chance for the country to win more support, cooperation and resources of the APEC economies to reinvigorate the national development.

The Deputy PM added APEC 2017 will also offer an opportunity to popularise traditional cultural identities and the image of a reformed, dynamic and potential Vietnam.

He reiterated that APEC 2017 is a diplomatic focus of Vietnam, saying that the establishment of the APEC 2017 National Committee is critical during the preparation for the year and demonstrates that the Vietnamese Party, State and Government attach importance to the Asian-Pacific region in general and the APEC forum in particular.

He noted that as the country will hold the chair and vice chair of many APEC working groups and sub-committees, Vietnamese ministries, agencies and sectors need to provide training to make their personnel qualified for not only APEC 2017 events but also a new stage of international integration. Meanwhile, thorough plans must be designed to gear up infrastructure for hundreds of meetings with the attendance of thousands of foreign delegates, including APEC economies’ leaders.

Deputy PM Minh also emphasised that APEC 2017 is a regional-scale event that will attract thousands of reporters of foreign media outlets, and communications activities hold a crucial role in promoting Vietnam as a dynamic and hospitable nation.-VNA