SOM 2 approves initiatives and key cooperative contents
(VOVWORLD) - The 2nd APEC Senior Officials Meeting (SOM2) and related events concluded Thursday after 10 days of gatherings in Hanoi. Deputy Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son told a press conference in Hanoi that the meeting reached many important results.
Themed “Creating new driving force for a common future”, SOM2 agreed to push ahead with the Bogor Goals of inclusive growth and equality to contribute to global effort on sustainable development. The meeting also approved the Policy Dialogue Framework on human resources development in the digital era and Multi-stakeholder dialogue on APEC cooperation towards 2020.
Mr. Son said: “A new initiative was discussed at the meeting to boost inclusive growth in economics, finance, and general society. Other members welcomed Vietnam’s initiative because it touches upon concerns on how to ensure people and businesses’ participation in the process and their benefit from economic growth in the context of inequality, the development gap, and the digital gap.”
Executive Director of the APEC Secretariat, Alan Bolards, said: It’s not a straightforward year. It’s a difficult year for APEC. We’ve come to the view about globalization. In the past Vietnam has been leading a lot of work. At the 1st SOM in Nha Trang 2 months ago, we agreed with Vietnam’s priorities and initiatives. This meeting is about receiving other economy contributions. Vietnam has been helping us a lot.”
SOM2’s consensus has created momentum for a successful APEC Year 2017 and reinforced APEC’s position as a leading regional economic forum.