Forms of Participation in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum

harmonize ASEAN, coordinate the implementation of the Hanoi Action Plan on customs-related issues. Since 2003, Vietnam has begun to apply the method of determining customs value according to the GATT Valuation Agreement of the World Trade Organization. Currently, Vietnam Customs continues to promote bilateral cooperation agreements, expand the implementation of electronic customs procedures... to achieve the goal of transforming customs operations according to the standards of a modern customs organization by 2010.

- Intellectual property rights: Vietnam's important efforts in this area include strictly complying with and coordinating the implementation of the Trade-related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS); issuing a number of detailed decrees on intellectual property protection subjects such as: confidential information, geographical indications, plant varieties, trade names...; participating in the Berne Convention on Copyright (2004); and passing the Intellectual Property Law effective from July 1, 2006.

- Competition policy: Vietnam's competition law was issued and took effect from July 2005 under the management of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, aiming to eliminate unfair competition and build a transparent and effective business environment in the context of an open economy.

2.1.2 Collective Action Plan (CAP)

In addition to implementing IAP, Vietnam has also made many positive contributions to the Collective Action Plans (CAPs) within the APEC framework to achieve the goals of trade and investment facilitation; focusing on two areas: customs procedures and standards and conformity certification. In addition, to further facilitate trade activities between the community,

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As a member of the APEC Business Travel Card Program, Vietnam has implemented Trade Facilitation Action Plans 1 and 2 (TFAP 1 and 2) to reduce transaction costs by 5% during the 2002-2006 period and continue to reduce them by 5% during the 2007-2010 period.

2.1.3 Economic and technical cooperation (ECOTECH)

With the aim of enhancing the ability of deep and long-term cooperation within the framework of the Forum, while at the same time shortening the socio-economic development gap with member economies, Vietnam has also made great efforts to promote APEC's economic and technical cooperation activities; regularly and actively participating in human resource development programs, expert training, management training, building and consolidating infrastructure systems, developing modern science and technology... revolving around this pillar.

2.2 From the perspective of a business community

On the path to pursuing free trade and investment goals within the Asia-Pacific region, APEC members in general and Vietnam in particular are clearly aware that APEC cooperation revolving around economies alone is not enough; besides, it is necessary to attract the direct participation of the regional business community - a force that plays a great role and has a great impact on the growth, equitable and sustainable development of Forum members. Therefore, on the basis of three pillars of activity, APEC has proactively built many forms of regional cooperation that require the participation of businesses; the economies themselves, including Vietnam, have also constantly consolidated and raised the awareness of their business community about the "golden" opportunities from participating in APEC cooperation; in order to promote the participation of this large force in the process of achieving the Bogor goals.

2.2.1 Forms of participation in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum

Binh Duong (APEC) of the regional business community

Reality has shown that APEC is not only an Economic Cooperation Forum operating on the principles of openness, equality and consensus with the participation of 21 member economies, but the activities of the Forum also attract great attention from the regional business community. This feature has created the difference between APEC and other forms of regional economic integration in the world. Coming to APEC, the business community from all Asia-Pacific economies has the opportunity to directly participate in the activities of the Forum through many diverse forms:

- Participation in the Pacific Business Forum (PBF) : The Pacific Business Forum was established at the first APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting (November 1993) in Blake Island, USA. The PBF brings together one to two business representatives from each member economy, and annually submits a report based on the contributions of the regional business community on business-related issues to the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting (AELM). The PBF's reports, including the APEC Business Action Plan: Strategies for Shared Growth and Prosperity (1994) and the Osaka Action Plan: Roadmap to Implement the APEC Vision (1995), are completely free from political influence and have contributed significantly to pointing out the challenges the Forum faces as well as advising on APEC's future directions.

- Participate in the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC): The 7th APEC Foreign and Economic Ministers' Meeting in Osaka, Japan in November 1995 marked the birth of ABAC as the official and regular representative mechanism.

The ABAC is a regional business community organization that replaces the Pacific Business Forum. Each economy nominates up to three representatives from the business community to participate in ABAC, which performs two main functions: advising on the implementation of the 1995 Osaka Action Plan, and providing information on business-related issues and the views of the regional business community on areas of cooperation in APEC. This view is largely reflected in ABAC's annual reports submitted to APEC economic leaders; which analyze in depth the economic, trade and investment developments in the world and in the region, evaluate the performance of APEC and ABAC, point out achievements and limitations, and recommend solutions to achieve the goal of sustainable growth and development for the Asia-Pacific region. In addition, ABAC is also responsible for attracting the participation and cooperation of other business organizations in the region, such as the Pacific Basin Economic Council (PBEC), the Pacific Economic Cooperation Council (PECC) and the Asia Pacific Business Network (APB-Net). Currently, ABAC is considered the most complete and effective representative of the interests and voice of the regional business community in the Forum.

- Participate in the APEC CEO Summit: Established in 1997, the APEC CEO Summit is a unique form of cooperation between the public and private sectors because it attracts the participation of APEC economic leaders, business leaders from all industries and representatives of social communities. Coming to this conference, businesses have the opportunity to

The APEC CEO Summit is an opportunity to meet and discuss with leaders and policy makers in APEC on the economic issues they are facing; at the same time, seek and build business relationships, establish a network of partners and customers with hundreds of businesses from APEC member economies. For that reason, the APEC CEO Summit is considered the most important event for leaders of the regional business community.

- Participate in sectoral dialogues : Sectoral dialogues are held within the APEC framework to enhance the competitiveness of the sectors mentioned, including: automobiles, chemicals (under the 1997 EVSL Voluntary Early Liberalization Program) and non-ferrous metals. Government officials and policy makers in relevant sectors will meet and discuss with representatives of the regional business community, to find ways to enhance the competitiveness of the sector, adjust policies appropriately, towards the sustainable development of each sector.

Thus, with the four diverse forms of cooperation mentioned above, it can be said that APEC's programs are always open to welcome the participation of the regional business community. And the efforts to maintain a sustainable cooperative relationship between the government and the business community are also considered the key to the long-term success of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum.

2.2.2 Main activities of the Vietnamese business community within the framework of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum (APEC)

Since Vietnam became an official member of APEC (November 1998), the domestic business community has begun to participate in

participate in cooperation activities within the framework of the Forum. After more than 10 years of operation, the cooperation process in APEC of the Vietnamese business community can be divided into two stages:

- From 1998 to 2005 : The initial step for the activities of the Vietnamese business community during this period was the nomination of three representatives to participate in the Asia-Pacific Business Forum (ABAC) in 1998. However, in the following years, the activities of the business community only revolved around replacing three representatives to participate in regular meetings and irregular activities of ABAC. Most Vietnamese businesses did not actively participate in other forms of cooperation in APEC, or participated in a scattered, small, and discrete manner; due to the limited awareness of most businesses about the importance of participating in cooperation in APEC.

- From 2006 to present : the success of APEC - Vietnam 2006 is truly an important milestone contributing to raising the level of integration of the Vietnamese business community within the framework of the Forum. Nearly 500 delegates representing domestic enterprises attended the APEC CEO Summit 2006 out of a total of about 1,100 delegates from member economies. In addition, ABAC Conferences, Small and Medium Enterprises Conference, Business Incubator Conference, Doing Business with Vietnam Forum, APEC Customs - Business Dialogue ( ACBD ) within the framework of the 3rd APEC Senior Officials Meeting... also attracted the participation of a large number of domestic and foreign enterprises. Since APEC - Vietnam

In 2006, the Vietnamese business community gradually moved towards a fuller awareness of the importance of promoting cooperation in the Forum; on that basis, proactively, positively and directly participated in most of the cooperation activities in APEC related to the regional business community.

Expanding the content and forms of activities within the APEC framework means that the Vietnamese business community has more opportunities to access trade and investment development strategies in the region, exchange and contribute their voices in the process of making regional and global economic policies. In addition, domestic enterprises also have the opportunity to meet and learn from the experiences of leading partners in the world, seek business and investment opportunities, establish long-term reputable relationships with the regional business community, and aim for future cooperation deals.

3. Some achievements and limitations from Vietnam's participation in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Forum

The outstanding achievements after more than 10 years of Vietnam joining APEC can be summarized as follows:

- Average tariff barriers in the APEC region have decreased from 16.6% in 1988 to 6.4% in 2004. Currently, most developed APEC members have average tariff rates below 5% [18]. Most non-tariff barriers have been reduced or converted to tariff rates to increase transparency and predictability for businesses.

- Investment barriers are significantly reduced , applying a one-stop investment mechanism, minimizing behind-the-border barriers to investment activities.

- Successfully implemented TFAP 1 phase 2002-2006, cutting 5% of transaction costs in the region.

- Initial implementation of electronic customs procedures , significantly reducing time

Customs clearance (from 7-8 hours down to 10-15 minutes).

- The APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC) program and immigration cooperation programs facilitate business activities in the region.

- Expanding import and export markets : currently, export turnover to APEC markets accounts for about 70% of Vietnam's total export turnover [23]; export-oriented products all have partners who are APEC members; many strategic products have been and are being exported strongly to the region.

- Successfully negotiated to join the World Trade Organization with the support of member economies. Promoted the potential for developing bilateral and multilateral cooperation with members within and outside APEC.

Besides, the cooperation process within the framework of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum of Vietnam still has certain limitations:

- The context of Vietnam's participation in APEC has many disadvantages compared to other members because Vietnam is a developing country, with an economy in the process of transition from centralized management to a market mechanism; lacks a team of qualified officials with expertise and experience in international economic and business cooperation. This significantly limits the ability to develop APEC's achievements related to liberalization, trade and investment facilitation.

- Awareness of the role of APEC cooperation in the process of international economic integration among officials, businesses and people is still limited due to the ineffectiveness of propaganda work. Some businesses are still not fully aware of the role and benefits of APEC.