Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem stated this while granting an interview to Vietnamese reporters in Singapore on November 15.

He added that State President Nguyen Minh Triet was one of the six leaders invited to deliver a speech at the APEC CEO Summit.

“We have shared our experiences in coping with the negative impact of the world economic-financial crisis and made specific proposals on strengthening member countries’ coordination in policy and action in order to ensure the economic recovery, continue boosting investment and trade, and implement Bogor objectives,” Mr Khiem said.

According to the Deputy PM, the Vietnamese delegation also put forth practical recommendations on enhancing cooperation within APEC and suggested APEC members to join efforts to ensure the success of the Copenhagen Climate Summit.

Vietnam’s proposals emphasised technology transfer and assistance to developing members in developing clean energy, reducing climate change impact and preventing natural disasters.

Khiem said that APEC members spoke highly of Vietnam ’s recommendations on capacity improvement, human resource development, assistance for small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), food security, fighting against trade protection and discriminations in trade and investment as well as narrowing the development gap.

“We contributed many ideas to the APEC reform in the direction of improving the efficiency of the coordination between APEC and international organisations and economic institutions as well as inter-regional and subregional mechanisms and promoting ASEAN’s connection programmes,” he said.

President Triet had many bilateral meetings with APEC leaders to boost bilateral cooperation as well as cooperation in the framework of the APEC Forum, he said, adding that APEC leaders affirmed support for and their willingness to coordinate with Vietnam when the country assumes its role as the ASEAN Chair in 2010.

The 17^th AELM took place at a time when APEC was celebrating its 20^th founding anniversary and its member economies were trying their best to weather the global economic-financial crisis and to improve the forum’s position and role.

In that context, the meeting achieved important outcomes. First, the APEC leaders adopted a joint declaration on “Sustaining growth, Connecting the region” and a statement on “ A new growth paradigm for a connected Asia-Pacific in the 21^st century,” reflecting the strong resolve to maintain growth and prepare for the post-recovery period.

The leaders agreed to join efforts towards a comprehensive, sustainable and balanced growth policy, support global endeavours, including the directions put forth at the G-20 Summit, and highlighted the importance of enhancing regional connectivity.

Dialogues with representatives from over 800 regional leading corporations at the annual APEC CEO Summit and the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) increased awareness of the need for close coordination between businesses and governments to implement the directions regarding economic development and regional connectivity.

Second, the APEC leaders emphasised the need to keep markets open, refrain from creating new barriers to trade and investment, resist protectionism in all forms and work together for the aim of concluding the Doha round of negotiations in 2010.

Third, the APEC leaders pointed to economic and technological cooperation and human security as the main pillars of the APEC cooperation framework.

Fourth, the APEC leaders were committed to take more reform measures in a move to improve the operation efficiency of APEC and ensure that APEC remains a leading economic and trade forum in the region.

Deputy PM Khiem added that the first conference of leaders from 10 ASEAN member countries and the US President was held on the sidelines of the 17^th AELM. The leaders agreed upon directions to strengthen the partnership between ASEAN and the US in the years to come.

“We believe that the APEC, which accounts more than 50 percent of global GDP and 57 percent of global trade, will remain a growth momentum for the regional economy and participate actively in rebuilding the world economy, helping to tackle global challenges and affirming APEC’s growing role in the world,” the deputy PM stressed.