Vietnam ready to host APEC annual meetings

Vietnam has made necessary preparations, including substance, security, protocol, logistics, and communication, for the approaching annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meetings, the biggest-ever international event hosted by the country.

The National Committee for APEC, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Khiem, on Oct. 26 staged an overall rehearsal for the organization of main events of the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting Week, including the Concluding Senior Officials' Meeting, the 18th Joint Ministerial Meeting and the 14th APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting, slated for Nov. 12-19 in Hanoi, capital of the Southeast Asian nation.

As a host nation, Vietnam has initiated the APEC 2006's theme " Towards a Dynamic Community for Sustainable Development and Prosperity" with four sub-themes, including Enhance Trade and Investment with the Busan Roadmap and the Doha Development Agenda, Strengthen Economic and Technical Cooperation for Gap Bridging and Sustainable Development, Improve Secure and Favorable Business Environment, and Promote Community Linkages; and the orientation for APEC reform.

The economic leaders are expected to adopt the Hanoi Action Plan to implement the Busan Roadmap towards the Bogor Goals as well as other approved goals of APEC.

"Realization of the action plan will last until 2010 (for developed economies) and 2020 (for developing ones). This means that from now to that time, the Hanoi Action Plan and Vietnam will be always mentioned by APEC member economies," Le Cong Phung, Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, told reporters recently.

This year, Vietnam has also put forth a major orientation: reforming APEC to make it more effective and more dynamic and strengthen its linkages both inside and outside the region. "Most member economies have admitted that 2006 is the APEC reform year," he said.

Security has received special attention of the host country which has, since early this year, prepared for all specific schemes, logistic facilities and necessary equipment for specific regions and cities to ensure absolute safety for the APEC gathering. After months of attending refresher courses and rehearsals, local personnel of security, police and emergency services such as healthcare and fire-fighting have exactly identified and effectively responded to potential incidents during the meetings like terrorist attacks, explosion, fire and traffic congestion.

The Ministry of Public Security has mobilized 800 officers and staff of mobile police teams, 220 others of special mission units to ensure security and order during the meetings. Since early this year, five rehearsals on coping with emergency situations such as kidnapping, hijacking and bombing have been staged at the Hanoi- based Noi Bai International Airport.

"Vietnam has very long coastlines and land borderlines, so it is not difficult to unwelcome elements to penetrate into it. Therefore, right from the beginning of this year, Vietnam has had both general and specific security plans for each region, city, sea area and mountainous area. I confirm that the meetings' security will be guaranteed," said the deputy foreign minister.

To deal with possible traffic jams and other disturbances, and ensure safety during the events, Vietnam has decided to ban trains, trucks buses and outdated taxis from running on several urban districts. For the leaders and ministers to the meetings, Vietnam has allocated 115 luxury cars branded Mercedes E-Class assembled in the country totaling some 12.4 million U.S. dollars.

Vietnam has completed preparations on logistic affairs, especially accommodations, food and healthcare services for roughly 10,000 people including official delegates, aides, entrepreneurs and reporters. Eight 5-star hotels in Hanoi are designated to receive foreign delegations.

The Ministry of Health has issued instructions to relevant healthcare establishments and food suppliers to focus on the most important missions, namely being well-prepared for emergency situations, preventing diseases and ensuring food safety. Ministry inspectors have frequently checked them since February.

A total of 28 hospitals have been designated for serve any need of delegates to the meetings.

The Vietnam Insurance Group has signed policies totaling over 4. 1 billion Vietnamese dong (257,900 dollars) to insure all APEC delegates and nearly 240 cars. The highest insurance rate an APEC leader can receive is 100,000 dollars. Some Vietnamese artisans and companies have pledged to offer special gifts to the delegates, including pictures of APEC leaders either made from gemstones or colored sand, and traditional costumes.

Besides, Vietnam has made great efforts to construct new modern buildings to serve APEC events, including the National Convention Center. The center's main meeting room is designated as a multi- purpose stage with an area of over 4,200 square meters and nearly 3,800 seats.

The center has three surface car-parks with combined capacity of nearly 500 vehicles, an underground car park with capacity of some 500 automobiles, a landing field for helicopters, an anti- earthquake system, and a well-equipped media center, the biggest of its kinds in Vietnam. Some 1,500 foreign reporters and over 500 local ones have registered to cover the events.

Source: Xinhua