(VOVWORLD) - The Concluding Senior Officials’ Meeting (CSOM) convened in Da Nang City on Monday, beginning the APEC 2017 Economic Leaders’ Week.
The two-day meeting is chaired by Bui Thanh Son, Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and APEC 2017 SOM Chair.
In his opening remarks, Mr. Son welcomed delegates to APEC Year 2017, adding that Vietnam already hosted 3 Senior Officials' Meetings in Khanh Hoa province, Hanoi, and Ho Chi Minh City in September.
 Deputy Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son (C), APEC 2017 SOM Chair, delivers the opening speech at the Concluding Senior Officials’ Meeting (CSOM) in Da Nang on November 6, 2017. |
He said that despite many challenges, all APEC member economies have done their best to attain results and reach consensus on important issues to maintain the momentum of cooperation toward this year’s priorities and to support other current APEC initiatives.
 (Photo: VNA) |
The same day, APEC Voices of the Future 2017 opened as part of APEC Week to encourage youths to participate in APEC activities.
The forum focused on youth’s contributions to creating new dynamism, fostering a shared future, and boosting sustainable growth, creativity, and inclusiveness.
"The theme chosen by the host economy, 'Creating new dynamism, fostering a shared future', is fitting for the younger generation in the Asia-Pacific region. Youth, with creativity and dynamism, and being nurtured in the right direction, can be a driving force for a nation's future. Our world will get increasingly connected, and our future will get intertwined. Young leaders from the 21 member APEC economies have to recognize that we all share a common future. How we want our future to turn out depends on what we do at the present moment," said James Soh, Voices Secretariat CEO.
APEC Economic Leaders’ Week is the final and most important event of APEC Year 2017. 14,000 delegates from 21 APEC members are expected to attend the event.