Najib arrives in Da Nang for Apec Summit

DA NANG, Vietnam: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak arrived here today for the 25th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) Economic Leaders' Summit (AELM).
The prime minister, accompanied by his wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, arrived at the Da Nang International Airport here at about 2.45pm local time.
Najib, who is also Finance Minister, was welcomed by Vietnamese Education and Training Minister, Phung Xuan Nha, and Malaysian Ambassador to Vietnam M. Zamruni Khalid.
Najib will pay a courtesy call on Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang later this evening.
He is expected to hold meetings with his counterparts on the margins of the summit to discuss bilateral, regional and multilateral issues of mutual interest.
The premier is also scheduled to meet 10 Trans-Pacific Partnership leaders for discussions as well as to attend the US-Apec Business Coalition meeting and participate in a dialogue on the topic titled 'Apec Post-2020 Vision' at the Apec Chief Executive Officers Summit.
The 25th AELM, themed 'Creating New Dynamism, Fostering a Shared Future', aims to foster discussions on how to generate further momentum for Apec's economic growth and integration.
During the two-day meet, starting tomorrow, Najib will take part in the Apec Business Advisory Council Dialogue and the Informal Dialogue between Apec and Asean, as well as two retreat sessions.
In the first retreat, Apec leaders will dwell on the topic titled 'Innovative Growth, Inclusion and Sustainable Employment in the Digital Age', while in the second retreat, they will delve on the topic 'New Drivers for Regional Trade, Investment and Connectivity'.
Before concluding his working visit to the coastal city, Najib is expected to meet the Malaysian diaspora at a dinner.
The annual summit is regarded as a major platform to discuss regional economic cooperation, trade and investment among its 21-member economies.
Apec economies account for about 45% of global trade and half of the world's total gross domestic product and global foreign direct investment inflow. — Bernama