Head of the Senior Officials’ Meeting delegation of Russia Valery Sorokin made the statement on the fringes of the round-table conference on APEC 2017: results, issues and prospects after 2020, held in Moscow, on October 23.

The event’s agenda was arranged in the order proposed by Vietnam, Chair of APEC 2017, including promoting sustainable, creative and inclusive growth; boosting extensive regional economic connectivity; improving competitiveness and the innovation of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises in the digital era; and the strengthening of food security and sustainable agriculture in adaption to climate change.

Vo Tri Thanh, Chairman of the Vietnam National Committee for Pacific Economic Cooperation Council, presented an overview of Vietnam’s goals and priorities and a video clip featuring Vietnam’s achievements in development and global integration.

Nearly 20 reports at the event reflected Russia’s scientific approach to their collaboration within the APEC framework and the plans and prospects for Russia-Vietnam cooperation.

Soroskin lauded Vietnam’s preparations for the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting, scheduled for next month in the central city of Da Nang, hoping that it would be a success with the adoption of the Post 2020 Development Vision.

He said that Russia pays significant attention to ensuring economic development in remote and mountainous areas, which matches Vietnam’s initiatives, adding that the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting needs to ensure the safety of economic development, including fighting funding for terrorism, dealing with the consequences of natural disasters and epidemics, and combating corruption.

Participants looked into the outcomes of the implementation of the free trade agreement between the Eurasian Economic Community and Vietnam, as well as the bilateral ties across agriculture, education and science.

Thanh suggested that a Vietnam-Russia free trade agreement (FTA) should connect with the manufacturing and value chains of other deals in order to achieve better results.

Director of the Russian APEC Study Centre, under the Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public, Tatiana Flegontova said that Russia also pays great attention to technological development and regional integration.