Vietnam's Da Nang Gearing Up For APEC Summit

By Noor Soraya Mohd Jamal DA NANG (Vietnam), Nov 9 (Bernama) – Da Nang, despite the daily heavy downpours and high winds, is not showing signs of slowing down from activities leading up to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit this weekend. The city is abuzz with preparations for the summit, where it will host leaders from 21 member countries, including US President Donald Trump, China's President Xi Jinping and Russia's President Vladimir Putin. Malaysia's Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak, who would also attend the summit, is scheduled to arrive Thursday. Meanwhile, officials, soldiers, volunteers and locals were striving to ensure that everything runs smoothly and according to plan. The APEC was an opportunity for Da Nang to strengthen and position itself as a business tourism and conference destination. The city, located 759 kilometres (km) south of Hanoi, is well-known for its 60-km silky white beach, surrounded by the Truong Son mountain range. Last Saturday, Typhoon Damrey barrelled into southern Vietnam, areas usually spared by typhoons, leaving several areas near Da Nang submerged in the worst flood in years. As of Tuesday, Vietnam's Central Steering Committee for Natural Disasters Prevention Control said the toll exacted by the typhoon continued to rise, with 49 deaths, 27 still missing and at least 64 others injured. -- BERNAMA