(VOVworld) - Hosting the APEC Year in 2017 is one of the key diplomatic activities for Vietnam under its policy of promoting international integration and multi-lateral external relations, said Deputy Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son. Ahead of President Truong Tan Sang’s trip to the Philippines for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit, Son told the press that Vietnam’s participation in the APEC Year 2015 contributes to Vietnam’s preparations for the APEC Year 2017.

Deputy Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son. Photo: VNA

He noted that since early this year, Vietnam has been contributing ideas and recommendations to APEC meetings at different levels, particularly Senior Officials Meetings, ministerial meetings and the upcoming Summit Week. Vietnam’s initiatives in the fields of response to natural calamities, energy, food security, human resource development and support for small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMES) were hailed by APEC member economies, Son said, stressing that these ideas will serve as materials and the basis for drafting contents of the APEC Year 2017.