Vietnamese President Vo Van Thuong will attend, make speeches, and host separate meetings at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) CEO Summit 2023 in San Francisco, California, on November 14-16.

Vietnam's President Vo Van Thuong and his spouse leave Hanoi on November 14 for APEC Summit in California, US. Photo: VNA

The Vietnamese President, who comes at the invitation of US President Joe Biden, is among leaders of 21 APEC member states to participate in the event, which gathers more than 2,000 business leaders in the Asia-Pacific Region.

The President is expected to send a clear message to the business community, urging them to work together to overcome current obstacles and grasp opportunities to support the region's sustainable development, including Vietnam.

The President and APEC Leaders will convene to deliberate on matters of paramount importance to global and local economies, delineating pathways for collaboration in trade, investment, science and technology, innovation, and numerous other domains.

Vietnam intends to collaborate with its fellow members to advance the values of communication, building, accountability, multilateralism, cooperation, and coordinated action towards the sustainable development and prosperity of the region.

The week-long visit will include activities to strengthen multilateral ties and bilateral relations with the US.

The President will keep advancing bilateral relations in the spirit of the recently signed Joint Declaration on the Vietnam-US Comprehensive Strategic Partnership through his bilateral meetings with US Senior Leaders and partners, particularly in California. These meetings will focus on education and training, science and technology, innovation, and fostering local connections.

This year's APEC-themed "Creating a Resilient and Sustainable Future for All" has a specific focus on interconnectedness, innovation, and

 inclusivity.

APEC Leaders gather at APEC Danang 2017.

Vietnam's 25 years of cooperation with APEC

Vietnam has joined APEC for 25 years, hosting the regional event twice in 2006 and 2017.

According to Vice Minister Nguyen Minh Hang of the Foreign Affairs Ministry, Vietnam significantly contributed to the Hanoi Action Plan in 2006 by helping to realize the Bogor targets for trade and investment facilitation. For the first time, general APEC reform orientations and the concept of creating a free trade zone in the Asia-Pacific region were agreed upon by APEC member economies.

Vietnam's long-term and comprehensive approach was reflected in its proposal in 2017 to create the APEC Vision Group and build a post-2020 APEC vision. It establishes the framework for the forum to approve the joint declaration on Putrajaya Vision 2040, which outlines the priorities, strategic objectives, and orientations of APEC cooperation in the upcoming era.

Vietnam is among the most proactive APEC members in putting forth ideas and projects for cooperation. The nation has put forth nearly 150 projects in a range of sectors, including the development of human resources, the promotion of e-commerce, food security, and the empowerment of women in the economy, as well as rural and urban development, the removal of ocean debris, and climate change response.

Hang highlighted that Vietnam's standing in the international arena has been improved by the accomplishments of the APEC Years 2006 and 2017 and other contributions, in addition to maximizing resources from cooperative regional economic activities to promote its socioeconomic development.