Speaking at the meeting, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Hang said that this trip aimed to directly exchange views with the Provincial People's Committee, and to listen to information from the locality and investors regarding the preparation for the APEC 2027 Summit.

The Deputy Minister emphasized that the main objective is to update the progress of projects serving APEC, especially the difficulties and obstacles arising during implementation. On that basis, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will compile a report to the Government and the National APEC 2027 Committee for consideration and decision on matters within their authority.

Deputy Minister Nguyen Minh Hang stated that the delegation wanted to gather information on the progress of projects to date, especially those involving investors. They also wanted to identify specific difficulties and obstacles; assess the impact of the situation in the Middle East on energy prices, input costs, and the potential impact on project progress. Any new issues arising during the preparation process, if beyond their authority, should be promptly reported to the Government and the National APEC 2027 Committee for appropriate action.

In addition, the Deputy Minister also noted the arrangement of accommodation facilities for the conference. Although the overall number of rooms basically meets the requirements, it is necessary to calculate the allocation of rooms for high-level delegations, heads of state, ministers, and business leaders... In particular, for accommodation facilities in the northern part of the island, a reasonable transportation plan is needed to ensure convenience, safety, and meet the requirements of diplomatic protocol throughout the conference…

Speaking at the meeting, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Ngo Cong Thuc emphasized that the APEC 2027 conference is a particularly important political and diplomatic task assigned by the Party, State, and Government to An Giang province to host in the Phu Quoc Special Economic Zone. The province deeply understands that this is both a great responsibility to the Central Government and the country, and a crucial opportunity to develop infrastructure, improve service quality, modernize urban spaces, and enhance governance capacity, creating new impetus for development for the province in general and the Phu Quoc Special Economic Zone in particular.

Over the past period, An Giang province has focused on decisive, proactive, and coordinated leadership and direction; promptly completing procedures and accelerating the progress of key projects; and closely coordinating with central ministries and agencies to promptly resolve difficulties and obstacles. This ensures adherence to guidelines, regulations, timelines, and quality standards, while also guaranteeing long-term effectiveness and the overall coherence of the infrastructure system serving the conference.

Based on the conclusions of the Government, the directives of the Central Committee, the Prime Minister, the Deputy Prime Ministers, and the National APEC 2027 Committee, the province has developed a comprehensive plan, clearly assigning tasks, responsibilities, and timelines for each group of tasks; regularly reviewing and updating the implementation situation; and promptly reporting difficulties and obstacles beyond its authority to seek guidance and direction.

To date, the province has basically completed many key tasks as directed by the Government leaders: finalizing the adjustment of planning and investment procedures for projects serving APEC 2027; approving the form and results of investor selection for key projects; organizing the groundbreaking ceremony for eligible projects; and issuing a master plan with some progress milestones shortened by 3 to 6 months.

In addition, the province is focusing intensely on the remaining key issues, especially the APEC Conference Center Project, aviation infrastructure, strategic transportation infrastructure, and the mobilization and balancing of resources.

In its management, the province strictly adheres to the "six clear principles"; simultaneously, it applies the "green channel" mechanism in handling documents, procedures, and tasks related to APEC, prioritizing and shortening processing times to avoid delays. The province strengthens on-site inspections, organizes thematic meetings, promptly issues conclusions, and assigns tasks with specific deadlines to resolve difficulties at the grassroots level.

The Provincial People's Committee has issued a directive to expedite land clearance for the construction of APEC 2027 infrastructure projects in the Phu Quoc Special Economic Zone, thereby tightening discipline and order, enhancing the responsibility of leaders, and strengthening inter-agency coordination in key stages that determine progress.

For the group of 21 projects under Decision No. 948/QD-TTg, the province has completed the selection of investors and construction contractors in accordance with regulations. Many bidding packages are being implemented, ensuring progress, quality, safety, and efficiency; including projects that have met or exceeded the schedule, such as: the expansion of Phu Quoc International Airport; technical infrastructure, digital transformation and the Smart Monitoring and Control Center; the Bai Dat Do mixed-use urban area; the Ong Quan Mountain tourist urban area; and several important items directly related to the APEC conference Center.

Alongside investment in construction, the province has implemented a comprehensive plan for activities serving the APEC Year 2027 in the Phu Quoc Special Economic Zone in a systematic, synchronized, and focused manner. The province has issued a decision approving the comprehensive plan; restructured the working group and adjusted the structure and tasks of the subcommittees to suit practical requirements. To date, all 7 subcommittees have completed their sub-projects according to their respective areas of responsibility, clearly defining the work content, implementation schedule, and responsibilities, creating an important basis for unified and effective implementation in the future.

On this occasion, the APEC 2027 Secretariat delegation surveyed the facilities and several hotels and meeting rooms in the area.

News by Nhu Ngoc – Xuan Ngoc

Translator: Thi Huynh