VietNamNet Bridge - 2006 was an extremely successful year for Vietnam’s external activities and a milestone marking Vietnam’s regional and global integration and its enhanced position within the international arena, said President Nguyen Minh Triet.
President Triet, who was also Chairman of the 14th APEC Economics Leaders’ Meeting, made the statement at a conference to review the APEC Year 2006, at Ha Noi’s National Convention Centre, on April 10.
The Vietnamese leader stressed that the success of APEC has greatly contributed to the success of Vietnam’s admission to the World Trade Organisation as well as urging the US to grant Vietnam Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) status.
Through the success, the President said, Vietnam has also affirmed its responsibility and prestige inside the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum as well as the international community. In particular, Asian nations have reached consensus on supporting Vietnam to be a candidate for a non-permanent seat at the United Nations Security Council for the 2008-09 term, he elaborated.
Vietnam welcomed five heads of state on official State visits during the 14th APEC Economic Leaders’ Week from Nov. 12-19. They included Chinese Party General Secretary and President Hu Jintao, US President George W. Bush, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chilean President Michelle Bachelet Jeria and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
The success of APEC has created a positive image of an active, open and safe country, promoted friendship and bilateral cooperation with APEC member economies and contributed to enhancing Vietnam’s position in its relationship with big economic and political centres around the world, said Deputy Foreign Minister and APEC Secretariat Chairman Le Cong Phung.
President Nguyen Minh Triet also took the opportunity to hand over a number of titles to a number of departments and individuals for their contributions to the APEC 2006 conference.
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