(VOVworld) – Foreign and Economic Ministers of 21 APEC members gathered in Lima, Peru, on Thursday to discuss ways to increase regional economic links.

Delegates at the meeting of Foreign and Economic Ministers

In his opening address, Peru’s Vice President Mercedes Rosalba Aroz Fernandez underlined the importance of cooperation within APEC to meet new challenges to growth and regional links.

Following the opening ceremony were three debate sessions on strengthening regional economic links and the quality of growth, boosting regional food markets, and modernizing small and medium-sized enterprises.

The head of the Vietnamese delegation Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh called on APEC to continue to be an initiator and driving force of growth and regional connectivity. He said APEC needs to revitalize the region’s trade and investment and coordinate links through the Trans-Pacific Partnership, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), and ASEAN towards establishing the Asia-Pacific Free Trade Area and partnership relations across the region. Mr. Minh said Vietnam has stepped up comprehensive renovation and international integration and will join other APEC members in preserving peace, stability, links, and prosperity in the region.

On this occasion, Deputy Prime Minister Minh met with Filipino Foreign Minister Perfecto Yasay and Singapore’s Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mohamad Osma. The leaders of these countries agreed to work with Vietnam to strengthen bilateral ties and coordination in multilateral forums, especially next year when Vietnam will host APEC.