The President who also chaired the 14^th APEC Economic Leaders’ Summit in Hanoi said after the APEC Year 2006, Vietnam’s prestige has been elevated internationally, leading to Asian countries’ decision to nominate Vietnam as the sole Asian candidate for non-permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council in the 2008-2009 term.

Together with diplomatic achievements in 2006, Mr Triet said the success of the APEC Year 2006 has helped consolidate people’s trust in the Party leadership, the Doi Moi (Renewal) process, and the external policy of openness and international integration.   

He also attributed the success of the event to people’s whole-hearted support and responsibility and expressed hope that ministries, sectors, localities and people will feel a stronger sense of responsibility for fulfilling socio-economic tasks set by the recent 10^th National Party Congress.

According to a report delivered at the conference by Deputy Foreign Minister Le Cong Phung, APEC 2006 was the biggest diplomatic activity ever hosted by Vietnam. During the year, the country organised more than 100 conferences, received more than 10,000 delegates, entrepreneurs and media workers, and particularly welcomed five heads of State to pay official visits to Vietnam on the occasion. They were Chinese Party General Secretary and President Hu Jintao, US President George W. Bush, Russian President Vladimir Putiin, Japanese PM Shinzo Abe and Chilean President Michelle Bachelet. Thanks to thorough preparations and strong support from people of all social strata, Vietnam successfully organised the APEC Year, making good impression on international friends in terms of the contents and organisational skills and promoting the image of Vietnam – a dynamic, open-hearted, hospitable and safe nation.

According to Mr Phung, the region’s largest economic event has created breakthroughs in the APEC cooperation process. Statements adopted at the 14^th APEC Economic Leaders’ Summit and the 18^th APEC Ministerial Meeting in Hanoi were highly appreciated by APEC delegates. The Hanoi Plan of Action on Advancing the Busan roadmap towards the Bogor Goals and the package report on APEC reform measures were considered the most notable results of the summit, alongside the successful organisation of business activities, including the APEC CEO Summit, the APEC Business Advisory Council Summit and the Vietnam investment and trade promotion forum. At the forum, Vietnamese entrepreneurs signed economic contracts worth nearly US$2 billion with foreign partners.