(VOVworld) - Themed "Visioning toward 2030”, the 10th Asia-Pacific Cooperative Ministers' Conference opened in Hanoi on Tuesday involving 500 foreign deputies.

Vice President Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh delivers a speech at the 10th Asia-Pacific Cooperative Ministers' Conference in Hanoi on April 18th, 2017.

Addressing the function, Vice President Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh said that now is the time for Vietnam to make more practical contributions to cooperatives in the region and benefits for the people.

Madam Thinh insisted on the need to boost links and regional integration to vitalize trade and investment cooperation, a key to increasing cooperatives’ economic growth.

“The International Cooperative Alliance-Asia and Pacific should focus on handling current urgent issues through cooperation and long-term vision. It’s important to make a hitch for the development of cooperative economy while restructuring and renovation should prioritize the improvement of cooperatives’ efficiency and narrowing the development gap,” Thinh said.

High on the agenda will be the International Cooperatives Alliance’s sustainable development goals, the roles of cooperatives, producers, and consumers in ensuring food sovereignty, and policies and regulations to boost cooperatives' growth.