President Truong Tan Sang has asked Asia-Pacific businesses to continue technical support for developing APEC economies, especially in education, personnel training and responses to global challenges, such as climate change and natural disasters.

As a special guest at the APEC CEO Summit in Beijing yesterday, which focused on strengthening regional links and boosting investment, infrastructure and policy, Sang addressed representatives of more than 1,500 leading regional companies.

He asked them to make maximum efforts to implement the APEC connectivity framework and roadmap passed at the summits in Bali and Beijing by mobilising capital and getting involved in public-private partnership models.

President Sang called upon Asia-Pacific businesses to also increase support for ASEAN members in implementing the ASEAN master plan on connectivity, as well as sub-regional projects on infrastructure and narrowing the development gap between the ASEAN mainland and Mekong sub-region.

He said the Asia-Pacific region was facing great opportunities with the formation of the ASEAN Economic Community and a new generation of free trade agreements, including the Regional Cooperation and Economic Partnership (RCEP) and the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).

The President highlighted ASEAN's contributions to trade liberalisation and investment and increasing regional connections as part of the APEC framework.

He said ASEAN members put forward the Bogor goals in Indonesia in 1994, the idea for an Asia-Pacific free trade area in Ha Noi in 2006, the sustainable development and regional connectivity initiative in Singapore in 2009, and the APEC long-term plan on infrastructure development and investment in Bali in 2013.

Sang said the next few years would be a dynamic development period in Southeast Asia. He said the establishment of the ASEAN Economic Community would create a single market and a united economic space for the whole region.

He added that most of the negotiations with partners on trade liberalisation, investment and services would be concluded soon, especially the RCEP, and the expanded and upgraded free trade agreements between ASEAN and China, Japan and India.

Sang said regional connectivity was a key pillar in Viet Nam's processes of reform and comprehensive international integration. He called on the business community to continue supporting Viet Nam with infrastructure development, capital resources, technology and capacity building measures.

The country's current priorities included building the East-West Economic Corridor in the Greater Mekong sub-region; expanding the Cambodia-Laos-Viet Nam economic triangle, the southern economic corridor and the north-south economic corridor; and developing seaport infrastructure, economic and tourism hubs, and industrial and border economic zones.

Participants at the event spoke highly of Viet Nam's achievements so far in reform, macro-economic stabilisation and economic restructuring.

Business leaders said they thought Viet Nam would continue to be an attractive investment destination and pledged to expand their operations.

The firms also proposed a number of measures and policies to create optimal conditions for investors.

Entitled New Vision for Asia-Pacific: Creativity, Integration, Prosperity, the two-day APEC CEO Summit is the most important business event during APEC Leaders Week. More than 10 APEC leaders are taking part.

The summit also provided space for discussions on major issues faced by APEC economies and regional enterprises, including the multilateral trade system, creative economy development and the establishment of an Asian-Pacific free trade area.

VN pushes TPP deal

Viet Nam was determined to reach a comprehensive and balanced Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) deal, President Sang told leaders of the 12 TPP member countries at their fifth summit in Beijing, China yesterday.

Sang said it was necessary to continue joint efforts in the spirit of mutual understanding and shared benefits.

Participants said that the deal was meant to nurture economic growth, create jobs, and improve competitiveness among member economies.

At the end of the meeting, which took place on the sidelines of the 22nd Summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation Forum running from November 10-11, they adopted a joint statement detailing the specific course of action to speed up TPP talks in the near future.

Launched in March 2010, the talks involve 12 diverse economies, including New Zealand, Chile, Brunei, Singapore, the United States, Peru, Viet Nam, Malaysia, Canada, Australia, Mexico and Japan.

The TPP accounts for about 40 per cent of the world's economic output and more than 30 per cent of total global trade.

Papua New Guinea

Viet Nam wished to step up the friendship and cooperation with Papua New Guinea, President Sang said at a meeting with Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Peter O'Neill in Beijing yesterday on the sidelines of APEC Meeting.

Exchanging visits at all levels, organising businesses' meetings, and negotiating and signing agreements were identified among the measures that will help accelerate the two countries' economic, trade, investment and energy links.

The leaders reached a consensus on furthering bilateral cooperation at multilateral forums while pushing for closer coordination within APEC, especially when Viet Nam and Papua New Guinea will host the APEC Year in 2017 and 2018, respectively.

Viet Nam and Papua New Guinea established diplomatic relations on November 3, 1989.

Boosting China ties

President Sang and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, discussed deepening the Viet Nam-China comprehensive strategic co-operative partnership at a meeting in Beijing yesterday on the sidelines of the APEC meeting.

Sang said top priority should be given to developing ties between the two Parties and countries, including increasing mutual understanding and trust while respecting each other's legitimate interests and implementing commitments reached in the past.

He suggested continuing to encourage visits by senior leaders and exchanges between ministries and localities, with a focus on interactions between the two people to mark the 65th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries next year.

Sang also proposed addressing differences over the East Sea through negotiations and open talks based on common perception and agreements already reached.

Both sides needed to maintain peace, stability, security, maritime safety and freedom while controlling disagreements and preventing the emergence of issues that could damage bilateral ties.

Sang asked for the negotiations on the demarcation of boundaries and development co-operation in the area off the Gulf of Tonkin to be accelerated.

Xi reiterated the consistent commitment of the Chinese Party, State and people to fostering the friendship, adding that it was beneficial for peace, stability and development in the region.

Xi suggested increasing strategic and people-to-people exchanges, and settling disputes at sea amicably.

He assured his guest that China backed Viet Nam's role as host of the APEC Summit 2017 and hoped both countries would continue working together closely on APEC mechanisms.

Meeting with Obama

On the sidelines of the APEC meeting, President Sang yesterday met United States President Barack Obama. The two discussed measures to implement a comprehensive partnership.

This includes the organisation of exchanges of visits by high-ranking delegations and preparation for the 20th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between Viet Nam and the US next year.

President Sang invited the US President to visit Viet Nam and Obama agreed and said he would arrange a visit.

Regarding the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP), Sang said Viet Nam was willing to work with the US and other member countries to end the TPP negotiations as planned.

Japanese PM

At a meeting between Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on the sidelines of the APEC meeting yesterday, the two sides expressed delight at the strong development of the bilateral ties in the economy, trade, investment, politics, security and agriculture.

The two sides discussed measures to enhance relations and agreed to increase exchanges of visits by delegations.

Abe said Japan would continue supporting Viet Nam's socio-economic development, infrastructure construction and technology transfer.

President Sang attended a banquet to welcome the leaders of the APEC Forum. The banquet was held at the National Aquatics Centre built for the 2008 Olympics.

Sang meets Widodo

President Sang met Indonesian President Joko Widodo on the sidelines of the APEC meeting yesterday. The two discussed measures to develop the Viet Nam-Indonesia strategic partnership.

They agreed to work closely to effectively implement their action programme during the 2014-18 period, increase exchanges of visits by delegations at all levels - and prepare for a ceremony to mark the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties.

They also agreed to implement measures to boost co-operation in the fields of economy, trade and investment and strive to increase two-way trade turnover to US$10 billion by 2018.

President Sang attended a banquet to welcome the leaders of the APEC Forum. The banquet was held at the National Aquatics Centre built for the 2008 Olympics.