(VOVworld) – The first APEC Senior Officials Meeting (SOM1) began Thursday in Nha Trang city, Khanh Hoa province.

APEC 2017 SOM Chair Bui Thanh Son (middle) (Photo: VNA)

In his opening speech, Vietnamese Deputy Foreign Minister and APEC 2017 SOM Chair Bui Thanh Son said SOM1 results will confirm APEC’s important role in seeking initiatives and advocate common goals to support all people and the business community.
“At SOM1, delegates will hear reports and exchange views on how to advance APEC’s agenda in the four priority areas to help APEC affirming its role as the premier regional economic forum. I expect that delegates will have in-depth discussions on ways to promote APEC cooperation to ensure that growth, globalization, and free and open trade and investment will benefit all people and do not leave anyone behind”, Son stressed.

He highlighted the priorities for APEC 2017 and briefed on the key outcomes of the Informal Senior Officials Meeting (ISOM) which was held in Hanoi last December. The Chair of the Finance Senior Officials Meeting reported on the outcomes of the Finance and Central Bank Deputies Meeting convened in Nha Trang last week.