Deputy Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – The APEC 2017 Second Senior OfficialsMeeting (SOM2) officially opened in Hanoi on May 17. Opening the meeting, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs BuiThanh Son, who is APEC 2017 SOM Chair, said the outlook for the Asia-Pacificremains the strongest in the world, with momentum picking up, as showed in thelatest IMF World Economic Outlook. However, the report also pointed out that near-term outlookis clouded with significant uncertainties and challenges, which call forindividual economy actions to be supported by multilateral cooperation, as wellas policies to support growth while boosting structural reforms, resilience andinclusiveness.
“Therefore, the cluster of SOM2 and related meetings, especiallyour meeting today and tomorrow is critical to executing the adoptedpriorities, advancing new initiatives, preparing for the Meeting of MinistersResponsible for Trade, and starting to shape the agenda and identify possibledeliverables for the Leaders’ Week,” he stressed.
During the meeting, the APEC senior officials will note theprogress of developing the APEC Framework on Cross-border E-commerceFacilitation and discuss recent developments of FTAs/RTAs in the region and theimplementation of Lima Declaration on the Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific(FTAAP).
They will also discuss how APEC can support the multilateral trading system(MTS) and contribute to the 11th WTO Ministerial Conference as well as othertrade and investment issues, including regulatory cooperation, supply chainconnectivity and global value chains cooperation.
The officials are scheduled to look into the progress in the development of theStrategy on Green, Sustainable and Innovative micro, small and mediumenterprises (MSMEs) and the Action Plan on Food Security, SustainableAgriculture and Food Security and Inclusive Growth through the PolicyPartnership on Food Security (PPFS).
They will also discuss efforts to enhance women’s economic empowerment as wellas the progress in the development of the proposal on “Bridging Gap in EconomicDevelopment and Integration of Remote Areas for Sustainable Growth in the APECRegion.”-VNA
The APEC 2017 Second Senior Officials Meeting (SOM 2) and related meeting continued the fourth working day on May 12 with a series of meetings and workshops hosted by APEC working groups and subcommittees.
APEC economies will establish a common framework to manage the issue of labour mobility in the region, said Tran Viet Thai, Director of the Vietnam APEC Study Centre under the Foreign Ministry.
The APEC 2017 Second Senior Officials Meeting and related meeting continued the fifth working day on May 13 with more than 10 meetings and workshops hosted by APEC working groups and subcommittees.
A workshop on developing the methodology for measuring and realising the sustainability of cities in the APEC region took place in Hanoi on May 13 as part of the APEC 2017 Second Senior Officials Meeting (SOM2) and related meetings.
The tax adjustment supports the Malaysian Government’s strategy to reduce reliance on foreign food supply chains and to assist domestic farmers, a finance official has said.
The proposed venue is located in the Chatuchak area of Bangkok, featuring eight public sites, including Krungthep Aphiwat Central Terminal and several nearby parks.
Connectivity is expected to improve further with the completion of the fifth Laos–Thailand Friendship Bridge by the end of 2025, facilitating logistics and agricultural exports to Vietnam, Thailand, and China.
Two naval gunboats intercepted a fishing vessel carrying 1.5 tonnes of methamphetamine hydrochloride off the coast of the main island of Luzon just before dawn, in a joint operation with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.
In the today context of socio-economic development and growth, the professionalism of Vietnam’s revolutionary journalists continues to rise, guided by exemplary mastery of new information technologies and the modernisation of their founding principles to preserve the enduring values of revolutionary journalism.
Thai Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce Vuttikrai Leewiraphan Thailand's formal proposal will be substantial enough for the US to consider further detailed negotiations. He hoped for a tariff rate not exceeding 10% and suggested that the US might extend the negotiation period if an agreement is not reached by the July 8 deadline.
Organised by the Ministry of Culture and the Association of Thai Silk & Culture Promotions, the event honors Her Majesty the Queen on her 47th birthday anniversary and promotes Thai craftsmanship on an international stage.
Prensa Latina's recent article on Vietnam’s assurance of smooth and effective transition to a leaner structure highlighted Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s latest directions on implementing 28 resolutions regarding the decentralisation and delegation of authority.
The lab focuses on four key thematic areas: energy transition and green innovation, sustainable agriculture, circular economy and sustainable cities, and nature-based solutions and biodiversity.
The key content of the document titled "Accelerating Innovative Strategies: Addressing the OOSCY Challenges" will be refined further in a seminar preceding the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur this October.
This follows Telegram’s serious failure to address the content that has been repeatedly reported to them, despite various efforts of negotiation and cooperation made by MCMC, it said.
Efforts to empower women must transcend dialogue and translate into concrete commitments, including corporate pledges and government partnerships, according to the spouse of Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
The forum featured two in-depth discussion sessions, engaging representatives from governments, think tanks, and businesses from both ASEAN and China, on how to forge closer ties for a common future.
The new FIFA Hub in Jakarta will not only support football development in Indonesia but also serve as a coordination centre for 21 football associations across Southeast and East Asia.
Minister Counselor Nguyen Hoang Nguyen reaffirmed Vietnam’s principled and consistent stance on the Palestine issue, calling for an immediate and lasting ceasefire across the entire Gaza Strip.
PM Anwar Ibrahim affirmed the determination of Malaysia, as ASEAN Chair for 2025, to utilise all viable regional mechanisms of the bloc and work with partners to de-escalate violence and restore a peace process led by Myanmar.
Talking to the Vietnam News Agency on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Vietnam’s Revolutionary Press Day (June 21, 1925–2025), Nikulina, who is also a veteran journalist of Russia’s Sputnik News, emphasised the vital role of mainstream journalism in defending the truth and maintaining public trust.
The Ministry of Commerce reported that imports also rose 18% to 29.9 billion USD during the same period, resulting in a trade surplus of 1.1 billion USD. In May alone, Thailand posted a 4.6 billion USD trade surplus with the US and a 4.1 billion USD trade deficit with China.
The World Bank will provide a 2.1 billion USD financing package for Indonesia, focusing oncreating jobs, stimulating economic growth, and enhancing access to clean energy across the country.
Deputy Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son (Photo: VNA) 
