Introducing APEC Secretariat's Executive Director for 2006
"Enhancing trade and investment helps promote socio-economic development for the region which, in turn, fosters a sense of community" said Ambassador Toan, who led the Department of Economic Affairs in the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs when Viet Nam was working for normalization of economic relations with the United States after the two countries re-established their diplomatic ties in 1995. The two economies completed the 5-year long negotiations on a bilateral trade agreement which concluded in 2000. Since the agreement was signed, exports and imports have tripled between the U.S. and Viet Nam. "The strategic policy of "Doi Moi," which refers to the comprehensive renovation of Viet Nam, focused on liberalizing the economy and opening its borders laid the foundation for Viet Nam's accession to APEC in 1998 and has prepared it for membership in the WTO," he added.
"As host of APEC 2006, Viet Nam is eager to contribute to building the APEC region into a dynamic community that will be highly relevant, useful and responsive to the needs of the people in this fast-changing regional and global environment," says Ambassador Toan. As Viet Nam actively embarked on the policy of international economic integration Toan was selected to be the Director General of the Department of Economic Affairs, then later the Department of Multilateral Economic Cooperation in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This department has responsibility for making policy recommendations and managing Viet Nam's international economic integration process in an increasingly globalized world. In this capacity Toan also served as Vice Chairman of the Viet Nam National Committee for the Pacific Economic Cooperation Council and contributed to formulating the policy decision on the early participation of Viet Nam in APEC, the Asia-Pacific region's foremost economic cooperation.
Ambassador Toan also contributed to the process of formulating Viet Nam's policy decision on application for membership in the WTO, which he hopes will be officially accepted by no later than when APEC's Economic Leaders convene in Ha Noi on November 18 and 19, 2006. Although yet to become a member of the WTO, Viet Nam has voiced its strong support on numerous occasions for the successful conclusion of the Doha Development Agenda negotiations. Deputy Prime Minister Vu Khoan, Chairman of the National Committee on International Economic Cooperation, said, "The later we join, the higher the requirements. If the Doha round is successful, the standards for WTO membership will be higher for us. It means that the requirements for opening the door will be wider and deeper. That's the biggest difficulty."
When Leaders met in November 2005 they affirmed that APEC would emphasize enhanced regional trade and investment with the implementation of the Busan Roadmap to achieve the Bogor goals of free and open trade and investment. The successful conclusion and implementation of the WTO's Doha Development Round has also become a top priority for APEC members in 2006.
"As the host of APEC 2006, Viet Nam will encourage APEC members to effectively implement the Busan Roadmap toward the Bogor Goals, while at the same time, expediting constructive negotiations so as to achieve successful conclusion and implementation of the DDA," Ambassador Toan said.
Ambassador Toan said that under the theme of "A Dynamic Community for Sustainable Development and Prosperity", APEC 2006 in Viet Nam will make a significant contribution to enhancing the development dimension of trade and investment liberalization.
Ambassador Toan said that the APEC meetings in 2006 will help all member economies to strengthen their cooperation for sustainable development and common prosperity for the people in the region. To host APEC 2006 is a precious opportunity to demonstrate Viet Nam's economic progress and commitment to integrate itself into the regional and global economy. Viet Nam will also have the opportunity to showcase its 4,000 year old culture as a peace-loving, hardworking and friendly nation.
Along with the implementation of trade and investment liberalization and facilitation, APEC 2006 will continue to emphasize economic and technical cooperation among its members so as to help them catch up with and benefit from the liberalization process. Economic and technical cooperation will help the member economies in their efforts to build and strengthen their capacity, raise peoples' living standards, narrow the development gap between economies and within an economy, thus strengthening the sense of community. "In our efforts to attain sustainable development and common prosperity, great importance has been attached to bridging the development gap among the member economies through strengthened economic and technical cooperation."
Other issues on the agenda for 2006 include improving a secure and favorable business environment, enhancing community linkages through tourism and cultural exchanges, enhancing competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises, human resource development, and emergency preparedness for natural disasters and potential health pandemics.
Ambassador Toan succeeds Ambassador Choi Seok Young from Korea whose tenure at the APEC Secretariat expired on the 31 December 2005. Ambassador Colin Heseltine from Australia will be the next Deputy Executive Director of the APEC Secretariat from January 1, 2006. Heseltine will serve as the Executive Director when Australia assumes host responsibilities for the APEC process in 2007.