APEC trade ministers convene virtual meeting on COVID-19
The 2020 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Ministers Responsible for Trade Meeting (MRT) took place virtually on July 25, highlighting COVID-19-related issues.
Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Quoc Khanh (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) - The 2020 Asia-Pacific EconomicCooperation (APEC) Ministers Responsible for Trade Meeting (MRT) took placevirtually on July 25, highlighting COVID-19-related issues.
Participants agreed that it is time for regional governmentsand peoples to join hands in cooperation at all levels to soon control thedisease and tackle its socio-economic impact.
Many of them stressed the importance of informationtransparency and experience exchange in supporting affected economies toovercome the hardship.
As heard at the function, in the coming time, APEC willprioritise comprehensive mobilisation of all resources needed to help itsmembers address pandemic-related damage and recover their economies, whilepromoting its role as the leading forum on the region’s economic integrationand sustaining inner cooperation.
Speaking at the meeting, Deputy Minister of Industry andTrade Tran Quoc Khanh said Vietnam has basically controlled the pandemic tofocus on both economic recovery and disease prevention and control.
He urged regional economies to boost internationalsolidarity, tackle COVID-19 impact, put forth plans for post-pandemic growth,support enterprises, and ensure social welfare for the people.
Sustaining supply chains and economic linkages in the regionas well as ensuring a fair and free environment for trade and investment isalso necessary, he added.
Khanh noted as the Chair of ASEAN 2020, Vietnam has hostedand engaged in various discussions in search of common voices and initiativesto fight the pandemic and support peoples and economies affected.
He affirmed that Vietnam believes APEC will continuecapitalising on the strength of its members and the bloc’s internationalsolidarity and collaboration to overcome the hardest challenge since it wasfounded and build a better future for the region./.
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Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Quoc Khanh (Photo: VNA) 
