THE FIRST SENIOR OFFICIALS’ MEETING (SOM1) IN NHA TRANG KICKED OFF APEC VIETNAM 2017
On February 18 – March 3, the APEC First Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM 1) and related meetings was held in Nha Trang City, Khanh Hoa Province.
These meetings had an important significance, opening the APEC Vietnam 2017, and kicking off preparations for the Summit Week held in November this year in Da Nang City.
Nearly 1,900 delegates from 21 APEC member economies, the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC), the Pacific Economic Cooperation Council (PECC) and a number of international and regional organizations will attend SOM Conference and 56 meetings of 4 committees and 34 specialized working groups.
Implementing the theme “Creating new motivation, fostering a shared future,” the purpose of this SOM and meetings is to discuss and approve the priorities of APEC cooperation in 2017.
Members will also discuss to concretize priorities, prepare reports to Ministers and present to senior leaders.
Meetings of committees and working groups will identify major directions of cooperation in various fields, notably trade and investment, economic policy, economic – technical cooperation, and budget management, discuss specific initiatives to continue promoting openness, business facilitation, emergency response, anti-corruption and transparency, human resource development, customs procedures, science, technology and innovation, etc.
In the context of many profound changes in the world and regional situation and continuing difficulties in global economic and trade growth, APEC members all shared their determination to continue promoting APEC cooperation with host Vietnam, contributing to strengthening growth and economic connectivity in the Asia-Pacific region.
With Vietnam’s role as host of APEC Year 2017, Permanent Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son will assume the position of SOM’s Chairman, chairing this SOM Conference as well as SOM 2 Conference and SOM 3 Conference that will take place in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City in May and August this year, respectively.
To welcome a large number of delegates from APEC members, the National Committee for APEC 2017, the APEC 2017 Secretariat, and the authorities of Khanh Hoa Province and Nha Trang City actively prepared very early, with the hope that the SOM and related meetings will take place successfully, international friends will understand more about the country and people of Vietnam, the beauty and culture of Nha Trang Coastal City and the South Central Coast.
In this occasion, February 23 – 24, the APEC Meeting of Deputy Finance Ministers and Deputy Governors of Central Banks will also take place in Nha Trang City.
