General view of SOM 2 in Hanoi

Opening the meeting, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son, who is APEC 2017 SOM Chair, said: “For the last 9 days, over 40 meetings, dialogues, and workshops were convened. SOM 2 and related meetings, especially our meetings today and tomorrow, are critical to executing the adopted priorities, advancing new initiatives, preparing for the meeting of ministers responsible for trade, and starting to identify possible deliverables for the Leaders’ Week.”

At the meeting, APEC senior officials will discuss policies and ways to boost APEC cooperation in trade and investment liberalization, human resource development, inclusive growth, urbanization, e-commerce, education, facilitation of global supply chains, science, technology, and innovation. Directions of APEC cooperation until 2020 and beyond are also on the agenda.