Viet Nam will participate in the
Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement negotiations as an official member,
President Nguyen Minh Triet has said.

President Nguyen Minh Triet and other leaders sit at the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation Forum leaders retreat in Yokohama on Saturday. — AFP/VNA Photo

He
affirmed that Viet Nam would work together with other members to turn the TPP
into a new and dynamic regional economic integration tool for the benefit of
member countries and contribute to promoting economic integration, growth and
prosperity in the region.

President Triet made these remarks at the first-ever summit of TPP members,
including Brunei, Chile, the US, Malaysia, New Zealand, Australia, Peru,
Singapore and Viet Nam, in Yokohama, Japan, yesterday, on the sidelines of the
18th APEC Summit.

The 18th
APEC Summit wrapped up successfully with the adoption of the “Yokohama Vision –
Bogor and Beyond” along with the Statement on 2010 Bogor Goals Assessment, the
APEC Leaders’ Growth Strategy, and Measures towards a Free Trade Area of the
Asia-Pacific (FTAAP).

Triet
also held a meeting with Mexican President Felipe Calderon yesterday where they
shared common viewpoints on the positive progress of Viet Nam-Mexico relations
and vowed to continue to boost co-operation, especially in economy, trade and
investment.

The two
presidents agreed to step up the establishment of a joint committee for
economic, trade, scientific and technological co-operation.

President Calderon said Mexico would continue to train Vietnamese students and
wanted to learn from Viet Nam’s experiences. Mexico also wanted Viet Nam to
co-operate in its organisation of the 16th UN Conference on Climate Change later
this year.

Later
yesterday, President Triet and his entourage visited Nagoya in Aichi Prefecture,
where he met with Aichi Governor Masaaki Kanda, Nagoya Mayor Takashi Kawamura,
President of the Nagoya Chamber of Commerce and Industry Jiro Takahashi and
leaders of the Japan Central Economic Association.

Triet
said in combination with their strategic partnership, the relations between
Vietnamese and Japanese localities and the co-operation between businesspeople
were important and would bring practical and specific outcomes to their peoples.

He
praised Aichi Prefecture and Nagoya for actively stepping up economic ties with
Viet Nam, specifically naming the success the Toyota group had enjoyed in the
country.

The
President expressed his hope that Vietnamese students in the prefecture would
act as a bridge to enhance relations between Viet Nam and Japan.

Governor
Kanda expressed his wish to develop co-operation with Viet Nam and stressed that
President Triet’s visit was a big opportunity for Aichi Prefecture and Nagoya to
expand their co-operation with Vietnamese localities.

President urges APEC

At the
first closed-door session of the 18th APEC Summit in Yokohama last Saturday,
President Nguyen Minh Triet said the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC)
Forum needed to continue efforts to resolve the aftermaths from the global
economic crisis and lift the world economy to a new stage of growth.

Triet
urged greater joint efforts by the international community, noting that the
Asia-Pacific region, particularly East Asia, continued to be a motive force for
global economic recovery and growth.

In the
new growth strategy, economic development needed to be associated with social
development and environmental protection, Triet said.

He urged
APEC to boost co-operation to narrow the development gap among member states
through greater commercial and investment connectivity, technology transfer,
human resources training, and infrastructure development, linking the new growth
strategy to the implementation of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and
co-operative programmes at regional and sub-regional levels.

With
Viet Nam serving as chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
in 2010, Triet also highlighted the achievements of ASEAN and the contributions
of the bloc to promoting sustainable growth.

At this
first closed-door session, leaders from 21 Pacific Rim economies agreed to join
hands in building the an APEC growth strategy as well as to support global joint
efforts and the global economic coordinating role of the Group of 20 (G20).

At the
opening of the 18th APEC Leaders Meeting earlier, APEC leaders focused their
discussions on economic development and co-operative policies among APEC member
economies.

On the
sidelines of the summit, Triet met with Peruvian President Alan Garcia Perez and
Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, discussing measures to promote bilateral
ties, co-operation on international and regional issues of common concern, and
increased cooperation in international fora, including APEC.

Both the
Peruvian and Canadian leaders stressed Viet Nam’s growing international position
and agreed to deepen co-operation and partnership with Viet Nam, particularly in
trade and investment.

VietNamNet/Viet
Nam News