During the two-day meeting, APEC economic leaders will focus their discussions on the Doha Round of trade negotiations, bilateral and regional free trade agreements (RTAs/FTAs), the Hanoi Action Plan to implement the Busan Roadmap, and measures to achieve the Bogor Goals. These are important issues which will help implement the Busan Roadmap adopted at the 13^th APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting in the Republic of Korea last year, as well as other previous APEC targets.
They will also touch upon other issues such as human security, economic and technical cooperation and APEC reform.

In an interview with VOV, Ambassador Tran Trong Toan, executive manager of the International APEC Secretariat, said among those issues, APEC economic leaders will spend substantial time discussing the Hanoi Action Plan, measures to resuscitate the Doha Round and proposals for structural reform.

“If these proposals are approved, they will be important reforms for APEC in the near future,” said Mr Toan.  

The APEC leaders will also consider and approve several important documents including the Statement of the 14th APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting, the Statement of the 18th APEC Ministerial Meeting, the Hanoi Action Plan to implement the Busan Roadmap, the report of APEC Senior Officials and the report of the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC).

The ABAC report includes recommendations to APEC economic leaders to reinvigorate the Doha Round, stabilise the energy market and accelerate trade and investment liberalisation and facilitation in the region. ABAC President Hoang Van Dung said ABAC had agreed to select Vietnam as the nation to develop the bonds market in the region for 2007. Notably, on the afternoon of November 18, ABAC members will hold a direct dialogue with APEC economic leaders to voice their concerns and give opinions on regional development.

Vietnam’s hosting of the APEC 2006 Week and its recent WTO membership has captured the attention of foreign investors. Peter Landiedel, Chief Executive Officer of Asia-Pacific DHL said Vietnam should accelerate economic reform if it wants to attract stronger foreign investment flow. He expressed his belief that WTO membership will help Vietnam’s economy develop stronger and that DHL Group’s investment strategies will pay off in the country.

The Hanoi Action Plan is expected to be adopted by APEC economic leaders on November 18. It will be the most important outcome of the APEC Year 2006 hosted by Vietnam. This shows APEC’s determination to realise commitments on trade and investment liberalisation and facilitation for the sake of sustainable development and prosperity in the region.

The summit is expected to cover the interests of people of all APEC member economies, and by doing so APEC will take another step towards the goal of building a dynamic community for sustainable development and prosperity.