The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Health Working Group convened its meeting in Nha Trang city, the central province of Khanh Hoa on February 23-24.
Khanh Hoa (VNA) –The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Health Working Group convened itsmeeting in Nha Trang city, the central province of Khanh Hoa on February 23-24.
Within the framework of the APECfirst Senior Officials’ Meeting, the event attracted more than 150 delegates,including senior health officials from 21 APEC member economies, the WorldHealth Organisation, the United Nations Population Fund, the Association ofPacific Rim Universities and representatives from related APEC forums.
Participants lauded the theme andpriorities proposed by Vietnam at the event.
Accordingly, Vietnam suggested thetheme of enhancing the medical system towards universal health coverage andsustainable development and five priorities, including updating the progress ofuniversal health coverage, intensifying the fight against emerging epidemicdiseases and antibiotic resistance, strengthening the prevention ofnon-communicable diseases and health of the elderly, ensuring sustainablefinancial mechanism to develop health care, and placing health care in everypolicy and reinforcing multi-sectoral cooperation.
Director of the Health Ministry’sInternational Cooperation Department Nguyen Thi Giang Huong, who is also VicePresident of the APEC Health Working Group 2017, shared Vietnamese healthsector’s experience, achievements, challenges and orientations for comingyears.
Vietnam targets achieving healthinsurance coverage for the whole population by 2020 and cutting check-up andtreatment cost to 42 percent from 54 percent, she said.
She also took the occasion tocall for closer cooperation among member economies, ministries, agencies andthe entire society to strengthen the health system and achieve universal healthcoverage for the goal of the Healthy Asia-Pacific 2020 to accomplish the 2030Sustainable Development Goals.
Delegates spoke highly of theoutcomes of the “Healthy Asia-Pacific” Roadmap in the region.
The meeting set four major tasks,including fulfilling the Millennial Development Goals in line with post-2015development programme, strengthening prevention and control of non-communicablediseases, enhancing the health system in support of universal health coverageand promoting response to emergency cases.
The meeting also approved theestablishment of the APEC Core Group to address challenges and successfullyrealise the “Healthy Asia-Pacific” Roadmap with the involvement of Vietnam,Peru, Australia, China, Chinese Taipei and the Philippines.-VNA
The first APEC Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM 1) went on in Nha Trang city on February 22 with activities seven committees, working groups and forums of APEC.
The first Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM1) of APEC 2017 and related meetings ongoing in Nha Trang city in the central province of Khanh Hoa entered their sixth working day.
Delegates spoke highly of the theme and priorities set by the host Vietnam at the meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Health Working Group in Nha Trang city.
Developed with state-of-the-art infrastructure, the Da Nang FTZ is designed to become a leading regional economic centre and a strategic growth pole in Vietnam’s new development landscape.
The Binh Duong Association of Supporting Industries (BASI) is expected to promote the usage of domestically manufactured components while supporting businesses in accessing international markets, strengthening linkages, and promoting deeper integration into global supply chains.
PwC Vietnam forecasts a vibrant M&A market in Vietnam’s healthcare sector in 2025, driven by rising demand for high-quality medical services and a growing middle class. Pharmaceutical companies, private hospitals, and specialised medical facilities, particularly in ophthalmology and oncology, are predicted to be key targets for M&A.
The central province of Quang Nam is set to become a hub for the medicinal plant industry, with Ngoc Linh ginseng designated as the core crop, under the Prime Minister's decision issued earlier this year.
The North-South Expressway project is scheduled for completion by 2030, aiming to establish the groundwork for Vietnam’s modern railway industry and stimulate regional economic development, positioning the country for a significant economic leap in the era of national rise.
The probe, initiated on June 11 following a petition by the US Coalition for Fair Trade in Hardwood Plywood, targets products classified under HS Code 4412 and 9403 imported from China, Indonesia and Vietnam.
Sun PhuQuoc Airways was born as a perfect piece in Sun Group’s strategic vision to build a premium ecosystem of tourism, entertainment, real estate, and aviation. With a pioneering ambition, Sun PhuQuoc Airways is not just an airline, but a symbol of connection – bringing the world to Phu Quoc and taking Phu Quoc to the world.
A key change in the draft decree is a provision requiring bank transfers for gold transactions valued at 20 million VND (765 USD) and above, to enhance transparency and verify customer identities.
In the first four months of 2025, trade turnover between Vietnam and Cambodia surpassed 3 billion USD, marking a 7% increase compared to the same period in 2024.
On June 19 alone, a total of 2,005 trucks completed customs clearance at Lang Son’s border gates — the highest single-day figure ever recorded in the province. Of these, 634 carried exports and 1,371 imports.
The OECD Economic Surveys: Vietnam 2025 report focuses on analysing the country’s macroeconomic fundamentals, the impact of international integration on attracting foreign investment and trade, and the country’s prospects for developing a low-carbon economy.
Antoine Colin, Senior Vice President for Global Supply Chain Digital Transformation & Resilience at HP Inc., affirmed HP’s strategic commitment to building a supply chain and ecosystem in Vietnam and the region.
Deputy Director General of the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT)’s Trade Promotion Agency Bui Quang Hung emphasised that logistics has evolved from a technical function into a core capability for Vietnamese exporters to maintain their competitive advantage in the US market.
A trade official has suggested companies work closely with shipping lines, airlines, and freight forwarders to monitor routes, transit times, and potential surcharges while exploring broader cargo insurance to cover risks like war and terrorism.
In addition to institutional reform, the agency is also rolling out key solution groups to combat counterfeit goods, imitations, and intellectual property infringements in the digital environment.
The event, co-organised by the Vietnam Trade Office in the UK and TT Meridian, a local importer of Vietnamese fresh produce, aims to build a national lychee brand and encourage broader recognition of Vietnamese fruits in a competitive, high-end market.
The industry's performance has been powered by bold investments in modern production lines, enabling Vietnamese firms to produce complicated products which were exclusive to advanced economies.
At the event (Source: VNA) 
