APEC member economies are now the largest investors in Vietnam, representing 65.6% of the total investment capital. Of the 14 countries and territories investing more than US$ 1 billion each in Vietnam, 10 are APEC members, with a combined investment capital of US$ 39.5 billion, accounting for 62.7% of the total investment capital.

The biggest official development assistance for Vietnam also comes from APEC, with Japan being the largest donor.

Up to 72.8% of Vietnam’s exports come to APEC members. Vietnam's imports from APEC member economies are the biggest, worth US$ 25.3 billion, or 79.2% of the total import spending.

Of more than 2.9 million international tourists coming to Vietnam in 2004, 2.2 million came from APEC member economies, accounting for 75.7% of the total.

The APEC 2006 summit will be the biggest international event to be held in Vietnam. The week-long gathering of the leaders of 21 member economies from November 12 to 19 in Hanoi will be the key activity. Vietnam's priorities for APEC 2006 would be APEC’s main pillars and would also be the continuation of the themes of previous and succeeding summits.

There will be more than 100 conferences and relevant events held during the year, with the first senior official meeting (SOM I) taking place in Hanoi this week. In the SOM I, Vietnam welcomes more than 800 participants and holds 40 related meetings to discuss APEC's directions. The three following senior official meetings SOM II, III and IV, along with other events, will be organised in big cities like Ho Chi Minh City, Hoi An and Nha Trang till the opening of the APEC economic leaders' meeting week from November 12 to 19.

Two major APEC 2006-related events, which are the ABAC (APEC Business Advisory Council) and APEC CEO (chief executive official) summit will see the participation of thousands of CEOs from 21 APEC member economies.

According to Deputy PM Vu Khoan, Chairman of the APEC 2006 National Committee, hosting the Asia-Pacific Economic Forum 2006 would serve as a valuable opportunity for Vietnam. First, Vietnam will make positive contributions to the development of APEC, making it more substantive and efficient. Second, Vietnam will further nurture an image of dynamism, hospitality and cultural identity of the country. Third, through APEC, Vietnam will promote relations with all other APEC members and accumulate more support from the forum’s members for the country's bid to join the World Trade Organization. In addition, Vietnamese enterprises will have the chance to meet foreign partners and develop business activities.

Trade liberalisation is the most important content of APEC. As the host country, Vietnam will help APEC participate more actively in the process. In the Doha round that took place in Hong Kong last year, some initial results were attained but the round is not yet completed. This year, APEC would focus on the Doha negotiations. Though without pre-determination, APEC 2006 has certain relation to Vietnam’s accession to WTO, Vu Khoan said.

The negotiation on Vietnam's WTO membership is proceeding very well. Vietnam has just concluded the negotiation with New Zealand. Of the APEC members, there remain only two members - the US and Mexico - who have yet to conclude WTO bilateral negotiations with Vietnam. Progress has also been made recently in the bilateral talks with the United States. Hosting APEC 2006 will be a driving force for Vietnam in the process.

In addition, as a less developed country among APEC members, Vietnam expects that by developing trade and investment, co-operating in economy, science and technology with other APEC members, it can develop faster. The gap between Vietnam and other APEC members will be narrowed down.

On the sidelines of the APEC 2006 economic leaders’ meeting week, bilateral meetings will be set up for up to five leaders of member economies, including US President George W. Bush in the hope of pushing WTO negotiations forwards.

Hosting APEC 2006, Vietnam will hold major international events and use the fora to further promote the country's image to stimulate foreign investment attraction and tourism.

To prepare for APEC 2006, a National Committee has been established with an important task of organising APEC 2006 with success, safety and prudence, displaying Vietnamese tradition and culture. Preparations regarding security, accommodation and other requirements for APEC 2006, including welcoming more than 10,000 participants during the summit week, have been fully organised. The My Dinh National Conference Centre is under active construction and will be completed on schedule. Facilities and human resources can be and will be fully prepared. All international conferences held in Vietnam were successful, APEC 2006 is bigger but will be also successful, Vu Khoan said.