President Tran Dai Quang delivers the opening speech at the APEC CEO Summit in Da Nang, November 8, 2017.

Addressing the summit of 2,000 CEOs and representatives from 21 APEC member economies, President Quang said the Asia-Pacific region has become an economic hub of investment, science, and technology, making one half of the world’s investment and trade and 60% of global GDP. The APEC business community has played a vanguard role in advanced technology, new energy, and cooperation models to generate prosperity and improve people’s living conditions.     

President Quang said the Asia-Pacific region has experienced drastic changes. Peace, cooperation, and development are the main themes but challenges remain. He expressed his wish that businesses will work together to create momentum for regional growth and that the Asia-Pacific region is the source of the world’s future.

“We expect that the Asia-Pacific business community and governments continue to give priorities to maintain global connectivity and economic recovery, take the lead in trade liberalization and investment, fulfill the Bogor Goal in 2020, push ahead with private public partnership in integrity and inclusive connectivity, develop infrastructure, distribution networking, and promote new investment agreements," President Quang said.

He added: "Businesses should enhance cooperation and support economies by investing in education so workers can better adapt to the situation and more people with support trade liberalization.”     

President Quang said APEC should turn economic success stories into miracle inclusive development toward the UN’s development goals. He urged businesses to strengthen their capability, engage in social issues, food security, water, and energy and rekindle the start-up spirit.  The APEC CEO Summit will have 15 sessions running from Wednesday to Friday.