Visit to Vietnam for APEC Ministerial Meeting

On 7–8 November, I will travel to Vietnam to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Ministerial Meeting in Da Nang.

Since its establishment in 1989, APEC has played an important role in promoting open trade and investment in the Asia-Pacific region to facilitate economic growth and regional prosperity.

The summit is an opportunity to hold bilateral meetings with counterparts from APEC economies. While in Da Nang, I will also meet Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Pham Binh Minh. Our economies are increasingly complementary, and tourism and education ties are expanding, including through the New Colombo Plan.

At the meeting, I will also promote the importance of good governance in achieving sustainable and inclusive economic growth.

Australia supports the empowerment of women in the region, through the AUS4Equality campaign, an initiative helping women in agriculture and tourism in Son La and Lao Cai provinces in North Western Vietnam.

Australia is focussed on implementing an APEC agenda that strengthens economic cooperation, supports new sources of growth and delivers practical initiatives that foster business and jobs.