(VOVworld) - The first APEC Senior Officials Meeting (SOM1) and related meetings on Friday convened the last of 60 meetings of APEC committees and working groups in Nha Trang City, Khanh Hoa province.

APEC delegates adopt four priorities for APEC Year 2017. (Photo: Chau Anh/VOV)

Participants agreed that APEC should be a leading mechanism in economic connectivity and settlement of global challenges through completing the Bogor Goals on trade and investment liberalization in the region by 2020, strengthening open trade and investment in the region, and continuing the bloc’s strategies and cooperation plans.

Chairing a press conference at the end of SOM1, Permanent Deputy Foreign Minister, APEC 2017 SOM Chair Bui Thanh Son said SOM1 and related meetings reached high consensus on the four priorities for APEC Year 2017, namely promoting sustainable, innovative and inclusive growth; deepening regional economic integration; strengthening micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises’ competitiveness and innovation in the digital age; enhancing food security and sustainable agriculture in response to climate change.

They endorsed the work plan for the whole year, including SOMs, Ministerial Meetings, and the APEC Summit Week to be held in Da Nang city in November.

The outcomes of SOM1 indicate that cooperation, connectivity, and trade and investment liberalization remains a mainstream in Asia-Pacific. APEC members will continue discussing major issues at SOM2 in Hanoi in May so that the bloc’s cooperation can bring more practical benefits to people and businesses.