Vietnam called on ASEAN members to push for more investment



Nov. 15 (VNA) -- Prior to the eighth Summit of APEC, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Manh Cam has called on ASEAN member countries to jointly push for more investment from developed countries for sustainable development of the whole Asian-Pacific region.

Mr. Cam made the call in his meeting with other six member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) who are also members of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, before entering the regional biggest economic event opened in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei, on Nov. 15, that involved leaders from 21 member economies.

In the working session with the head delegates of Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand and Singapore, the Deputy Prime Minister of Viet Nam, in capacity as President of ASEAN Permanent Committee, attached importance to the grouping's unity and close coordination of action in narrowing the gaps of development and information technology achievements among member countries, in boosting human resources and providing favourable business environment in order to attract more foreign investment. He also proposed ASEAN member countries call with one voice on developed countries to encourage and support their businesses to invest more in the region as an active contribution to sustainable development of Asia-Pacific.

At the APEC summit's opening session, Deputy PM Cam mentioned possible challenges posed to small and medium businesses amid rapid progress made in the information technology revolution and increasingly fierce competition. He, therefore, stressed on more support and assistance to small- and medium- sized businesses to survive and develop.

It was also the major topic of the session, where leaders of countries including such big ones as China, Russia, Japan and the United States, were trying to looking for measures to address possible globalisation affects to small and medium businesses