The successful conclusion of APEC 2006 in Ha Noi will help raise Viet Nam’s profile abroad, President Nguyen Minh Triet said yesterday.
"I affirm that the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting and APEC Week in Ha Noi a success," the President told the press.

He said APEC leaders had expressed their admiration for the way Viet Nam had hosted the Asia-Pacific meeting, and that it would help the country move forward.

"The economic leaders also expressed their admiration for Viet Nam’s socio-economic development and Ha Noi’s beauty and Vietnamese people’s hospitality," Triet said.

"This will contribute to raising the status and prestige of Viet Nam in the international arena."

Triet expressed his thanks to APEC members and the APEC Secretariat for their co-operation and support.

Following the two-day meeting entitled:

Towards One Dynamic Community for Sustainable Development and Prosperity, the regional economic leaders issued a declaration stating the conclusions of the 14th APEC meeting.

They also endorsed the Ha Noi Action Plan to implement the Busan Roadmap as a foundation for APEC economic co-operation for the next 15 years. The action plan focuses on identifying concrete ways to achieve the Bogor Goals. It also sets out a time frame for activities and programmes and specifies capacity-building measures, in line with the economic and technical co-operation agenda.

Triet also made an oral statement on behalf of the 21 APEC leaders that reiterated their commitment to peace and security on the Korean Peninsula and their resolve towards a peaceful resolution of the North Korea nuclear issue.

"We express our strong concern for the July 4-5 missile launches and the October 9 nuclear test by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea," the President said, adding that it posed "a clear threat to our shared interest of peace and security and our shared goal of achieving a nuclear weapons’ free Korean Peninsular."

The statement stressed the need for the full implementation of Security Council Resolutions No 1695 and 1718.

"We emphasise our strong support for the six-party talks and are encouraged by the recent progress on resuming the talks," Triet said.

"We call for concrete and effective steps towards the full implementation of the September 19, 2005 joint statement and the early resumption of the six-party talks," he said.

Major accomplishment

Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Khiem declared the 14th APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting (AELM), which concluded over the weekend, a major accomplishment during an interview with the Viet Nam News Agency yesterday.

"The 14th AELM wrapped up successfully, leaving pleasant memories of the Vietnamese land and people in the minds of international delegates and friends," said the deputy prime minister.

Khiem said it was an honor for Viet Nam to host AELM, with great efforts made by Government officials and volunteers to ensure the safety and comfort of visiting dignitaries.

Delegates and other members from the international community acknowledged Viet Nam’s immense contributions to the organisation and management of the meeting, especially its flexibility in dealing with issues where there were differing views.

"Looking back at the entire APEC Year 2006, we are very proud of ensuring security and resolute safety for all leaders, delegates and international guests," said Khiem, "which demonstrates our country’s socio-political stability, favourable business and investment environment, and the Vietnamese people’s energy and commitment." — VNS