Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnamese President Vo Van Thuong, his wife and ahigh-ranking delegation of Vietnam left Hanoi on November 14 to attend the 2023 APEC Economic Leaders’ Week and bilateralactivities in the US from November 14-17 at the i💝nvitation of US Presidentᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚ Joe Biden.
President Thuong and his spouse are accompanied by Chairman of the Presidential Office Le Khanh Hai, Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son, Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien, Minister of Finance Ho Duc Phoc, Chairman of the National Assembly's Committee for Culture and Education Nguyen Dac Vinh, among others. TheAsia-Pacific region and the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum are important priorities in Vietnam'sforeign policy which aims to foster and enhance multilateraldiplomacy, helping to protect and promote security and development interests and elevating the country's position. SinceVietnam joined APEC 25 years ago, Vietnam has made positive and activecontributions to the forum, proposing many initiatives and cooperation projectsthat are highly appreciated by other APEC members, contributing to promotingpeace, stability, cooperation, and economic connection in the region, andmaintaining APEC's role as a leading economic connection mechanism in Asia -Pacific. Meanwhile,Vietnam - US relations have been developing strongly in the past time with amilestone marking the establishment of the comprehensivestrategic partnership between the two nations on the occasion of US President Joe Biden's State visitto Vietnam in September 2023 at the invitation of Party General SecretaryNguyen Phu Trong. Thetwo sides have signed many cooperation agreements on economy,science-technology, education-training, and humanitarian issues, includingcommercial contracts with a total value of over 10 billion USD. Withthe special significance of this year's APEC Economic Leaders’ Week and in thecontext of the Vietnam – US growing relations, President Thuong's trip to attend the event and his bilateral activities are of importance both multilaterally and bilaterally, helping to maintain and strengthen external relations for peace, stability, and favourable conditionsfor the country's development. Thetheme of this year’s APEC is “Creating a Resilient and Sustainable Future forAll”. With a focus on connectivity, innovation and inclusiveness, APEC leaders willlook into many issues of the global economy's concern, including the maintenanceof sustainable supply chains, digital transformation, digital trade, energytransition, climate change fight, and green economy. Oneof the purposes of APEC 2023 is to mark 30 years since the first APEC EconomicLeaders’ Meeting was held in the US. The US’s hosting of the meeting for the third time shows itscommitment to regional economic development as well as its sense ofresponsibility towards the global economy./.
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