Senior Officials’ Meeting kicks off 2017 APEC Economic Leaders' Week in Da Nang

The 2017 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Week, hosted by the central Vietnamese city of Da Nang, officially began today, November 6, with the Concluding Senior Officials´ Meeting (CSOM).

The CSOM will take place on Monday and Tuesday, chaired by Bui Thanh Son, Vietnam’s deputy minister of foreign affairs, and chairman of the APEC 2017 Senior Officials´ Meeting.

Son is scheduled to announce the results of the CSOM at a press conference on Tuesday afternoon at the International Media Center in Da Nang.

APEC began in the wake of heavy rains over the weekend. “[But] after the rain, the sun rises,” Deputy Minister Son said in his opening address, repeating a well-known Vietnamese saying.

The deputy minister expressed his pleasure at welcoming delegates again to the last and most important SOM meeting in Da Nang.

Son said the two-day event would focus on two key objectives: reviewing the progress made in realizing APEC’s vision for this year and finalizing the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) Declaration and the APEC Ministerial Meeting Statement.

Bui Thanh Son (central), Vietnam’s deputy minister of foreign affairs and chairman of the APEC 2017 Senior Officials´ Meeting, talks with delegates ahead of the opening of the Concluding Senior Officials´ Meeting in Da Nang, central Vietnam, on November 6, 2017. Photo: Thuan Thang/Tuoi Tre

Delegates talk together ahead of the opening of the Concluding Senior Officials´ Meeting in Da Nang, central Vietnam, on November 6, 2017. Photo: Thuan Thang/Tuoi Tre

Held in conjunction with the CSOM is the APEC ‘Voices of the Future’ forum and the ABAC meeting.

The 'Voices of the Future' forum is a platform for youth voices at the annual APEC summit, and takes place from November 5 to 11, while the ABAC meeting is scheduled to wrap up today.

APEC is a regional economic forum established in 1989 and comprised of 21 member economies, including Australia, China, Japan, South Korea, Thailand, the United States, and Vietnam, among others.

The Economic Leaders’ Week, the culmination of Vietnam’s year-long hosting of APEC meetings, is on from November 6 to 11 in Da Nang, and is expected to be attended by some 12,000-14,000 delegates from the 21 member economies.

This year’s APEC summit carries the theme of 'Creating New Dynamism, Fostering a Shared Future.'

Vietnam’s State President Tran Dai Quang will host the APEC Economic Leaders' Week’s key events, including the 25th APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting (AELM), the AELM Gala Dinner and Cultural Performances.

He will also chair the ABAC Dialogue with APEC Economic Leaders, and the APEC - ASEAN Informal Dialogue on November 10 - 11.

In addition, President Quang will deliver a keynote speech at the APEC CEO Summit, held from November 8 - 10.

The president's spouse, Nguyen Thi Hien, will host the Leaders Spouse Program in Hoi An, Quang Nam and Da Nang on November 11.

The Vietnam Business Summit, where Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc is expected to deliver an address, will be held on November 7.

Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh and Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Tuan Anh will chair the 29th APEC Ministerial Meeting on November 8.