AMM 36: Vietnam proposes key directions for APEC to promote innovation and common prosperity
WVR - On October 30, within the framework of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Forum, the 36th APEC Ministerial Meeting (AMM 36) took place in Gyeongju, Republic of Korea.
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| The 36th APEC Ministerial Meeting is a crucial event in the APEC Economic Leaders' Week 2025, aimed at preparing content for the 32nd APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting scheduled for October 31 - November 1. |
The meeting was co-chaired by Republic of Korea Foreign Minister Cho Hyun and Trade Minister Yeo Han-Koo, with the participation of Foreign Ministers, Economic and Trade Ministers, and Heads of Delegations from 21 APEC member economies, the Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), the Secretary-General of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the Chair of the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC), along with representatives from international and regional organizations. The Vietnamese delegation was led by Nguyen Hong Dien, Minister of Industry and Trade, and Nguyen Minh Hang, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs.
At the meeting, the ministers conducted a comprehensive review of APEC cooperation in 2025, particularly the progress of implementing goals and action plans to realize the APEC Vision 2040. They engaged in in-depth discussions on directions and specific measures to continue affirming and enhancing APEC's role in its three main pillars of cooperation: “Connectivity – Innovation – Prosperity.”
Sharing a common understanding of the importance of the WTO in promoting trade, the ministers welcomed and appreciated efforts to deepen and advance discussions within the WTO on contemporary trade issues. They agreed on the need to further strengthen economic integration, support members in enhancing their capacity to participate in comprehensive and high-quality trade agreements, aiming towards the Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP).
The meeting called for enhanced connectivity, structural reforms, removing bottlenecks, and strengthening safe, resilient, sustainable, and open supply chains. Considerable time was devoted to discussing solutions to effectively leverage opportunities from digital transformation, science and technology, particularly artificial intelligence (AI), to enhance productivity, competitiveness, and growth quality while minimizing development risks.
The ministers agreed to enhance cooperation and coordinated actions to address challenges directly impacting inclusive and sustainable growth. They called for the acceleration of APEC's action plans and cooperation programs in key areas such as climate change response, disaster risk reduction, and sustainable marine economic development.
On the occasion of the meeting, the ministers presented awards for the APEC competition on ideas and applications for the bio-circular-green economy model, where a representative from Vietnam was honored with an award in the “Youth” category for the idea of recycling biological waste into environmentally friendly ink products.
Regarding connectivity, Minister Nguyen Hong Dien shared key focuses to ensure free, open, sustainable, and inclusive trade and investment in the Asia-Pacific region. He proposed that APEC members enhance cooperation, share experiences, and provide technical support in building AI capacity, particularly in workforce training, labor supply-demand connectivity, and providing free or low-cost access to AI tools for the public. He also emphasized the importance of promoting investment cooperation, providing green financing, and technology transfer, while supporting developing economies in applying digital and AI technologies in supply chain management, contributing to seamless regional trade flows. Additionally, he advocated for actively promoting WTO reform, especially in the dispute resolution mechanism, to improve the organization's operational efficiency.
At the meeting, Vietnam announced its ratification of the Fisheries Subsidies Agreement Phase I, participation in the Multi-Party Interim Appeal Arbitration Arrangement (MPIA), and commitment to continue supporting and contributing positively to joint efforts to strengthen a fair, sustainable, and inclusive multilateral trading system (MTS).
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| Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Hang speaking at the 36th APEC Ministerial Meeting (AMM 36). |
On the topic of innovation and prosperity, Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Minh Hang proposed several major directions for APEC to focus on to promote innovation and common prosperity in the region. Specifically, she suggested establishing a regional cooperation framework on emerging technologies to ensure that artificial intelligence and digital innovations serve humanity and promote inclusive growth. She also emphasized enhancing cooperation on labour mobility, human resource development, and sharing experiences in addressing population aging issues. Furthermore, she advocated for boosting digital capacity so that all generations can adapt, contribute, and benefit from the digital economy. Cross-border cooperation in creative fields should be promoted to unlock the full potential of individuals and communities. Investment in the creative ecosystem, support for startups and micro, small, and medium enterprises, and encouraging the flow of creative professionals were also highlighted as ways to transform innovation and culture into powerful drivers of economic growth, job creation, and mutual understanding in the region. The Vietnamese delegation's statements were well-received, highly appreciated, and reflected in the meeting's documents and declarations.
The 36th APEC Ministerial Meeting is a crucial event in the APEC Economic Leaders' Week 2025, aimed at preparing content for the 32nd APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting scheduled for October 31 - November 1.
