Addressing the APEC forum held in Hanoi on Friday, Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh said Vietnam, within the APEC framework,  would give priority to promoting the liberalization of trade and investment The deputy PM, who is also the Foreign Minister, made the statement in an opening address for the "APEC in the 21st century Asia-Pacific" conference, jointly organized by the Vietnamese Foreign Ministry and the UNDP Vietnam membership, which coincides with the country's 15th year of APEC. United Nations Deputy Secretary General and Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific Noeleen Heyzer, former Australian Foreign Minister Alaxander Downer, APEC senior officials, APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) representatives, the APEC Secretariat Executive Director, former Deputy Prime Minister Vu Khoan were among the delegates of the conference. In his opening address, Minh also said Vietnam's policies are helping to foster multi-level economic connectivity in the Asia-Pacific as well as the building of an ASEAN Community and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum. The economic-political context in Asia-Pacific in particular and the world in general have changed significantly after the global financial crisis, so the conference was taking place at an important time for APEC as well as the region, said the deputy PM.

He also said  that APEC members are sharing interests and responsibilities in supporting member economies to recover, maintaining the region's key position in the global economy as well as peace, stability, cooperation and prosperity in the region.

Although APEC had the potential to enhance its influence in the region and the world, challenges still remained, especially those in the implementation of the Bogor Goals, the reform process as well as contributions to regional and international issues, the deputy PM said.

At the conference, APEC members highly valued Vietnam's positive and active contribution to APEC during the past 15 years. On the occasion of Vietnam's 15-year membership of APEC, Deputy PM and FM Minh also hosted a banquet in honor of the conference’s delegates.