Foreign Ministry spokesman Le Dzung said on May 11 that SOM2 and related meetings will discuss major issues such as entry to the WTO, an action plan to implement the Busan roadmap, the Bogor Target, bilateral and regional free trade agreements, trade liberalisation activities, facilitating APEC trade and investment, economic and technological co-operation, human-security, APEC reform and other issues.

The APEC trade ministerial meeting in Ho Chi Minh City is an important event to prepare for the Foreign and Trade Ministerial Meeting and the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting in Hanoi in November. It will focus discussions on issues, including APEC support for the completing the Doha round of negotiations in late 2006, checking the implementation of the Bogor Target and discussing orientations for future APEC roadmaps in order to obtain the Bogor Target, evaluating the implementation of the Shanghai Agreement, and discussing other important economic and technological co-operation issues to ensure a safe trade environment and prevent natural disasters.

The meeting is expected to attract 21 trade ministers from APEC member economies.