As the 32nd APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting approaches, young voices like Tieu Thanh – a Vietnamese professional based in Tianjin on the Chinese mainland – are highlighting the forum’s transformative role in shaping regional economies. With over 80% of Vietnam’s foreign investment originating from APEC members, Thanh emphasizes how cross-border collaboration has become "the backbone of modern supply chains" across Asia.
This year’s summit in Gyeongju, the Republic of Korea, carries added significance as China and Vietnam deepen infrastructure ties through the Belt and Road Initiative and the Two Corridors and One Economic Circle framework. Improved rail links and port upgrades are streamlining trade routes, with Thanh noting: "When goods move faster, opportunities reach more people."
While APEC members prepare to discuss sustainable growth strategies, grassroots advocates stress the need for tangible outcomes. "My hope is that farmers in Vietnam’s highlands and tech workers in Seoul feel these connections in their daily lives," Thanh told CGTN’s youth-focused Act to Action campaign. Her message resonates with APEC’s 2024 theme of fostering innovation-driven prosperity through regional unity.
