Vietnam active in boosting Asia – Europe connectivity at ASEP 9

National Assembly (NA) Vice Chairman Uong Chu Luu has proposed numerous measures to effectively foster the cooperation between Asia and Europe at the 9th Asia-Europe Parliamentary Partnership (ASEP-9) Meeting, which ran from April 21-22 in Mongolia.

NA Vice Chairman Uong Chu Luu, who led the Vietnamese delegation to the event, attached significance to the ASEP, saying that the connection between the two economic blocs in Europe and Asia will create a new impetus to trade and investment exchanges, as well as other shared issues.

With the formation of the ASEAN Community in 2015, Vietnam, together with other member nations have actively reinforced the central role of ASEAN, and promoted the cooperation and connectivity between the bloc and other partners, Luu said.

NA Vice Chairman Uong Chu Luu. Source: VOV

He noted that Vietnam is one of the leading ASEAN nations in concluding negotiations for free trade agreements (FTA) with key international economic and political hubs, such as the European Union (EU) and the Asian – European Economic Union.

Touching upon security and political issues, the Vietnamese delegation head reiterated the settlement of disputes via peaceful measures in line with the United Nations’ chapters and international law.

He called for respecting the freedom of navigation and overflight at sea, strictly adhering to the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) towards completing negotiations on a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).

ASEP-9 is one of the two key events hosted by Mongolia this year, together with the 11th Asia-Europe Summit Meeting (ASEM-11), which aims to mark the 20th founding anniversary of ASEM.

This year’s version saw the participation of 200 delegates from 32 ASEP member nations and international organisations.

With the theme of “The role of ASEP to ASEM”, the meeting focused its discussions on the “Connectivity and efficiency of multi-lateral mechanisms” and “Partnership toward the future”.

Participants spoke highly of the achievements ASEP have reached in three pillar areas and highlighted the organisation’s role in consolidating the political dialogues between the two continents on regional and international issues, in a bid to forge socio-economic-trade, culture and education relations.

They also reached agreement on fostering people-to-people, parliamentary and government connectivity between the two continents via investment in traffic infrastructure.

Numerous initiatives were raised at the meeting to strengthen dialogues, and build trust and cooperation for peace, security and stability in the Asia-Pacific Region and in the world.

The ASEP meeting adopted a joint statement, highlighting the role of parliamentarians in Asia – Europe connectivity to ensure peace, stability and prosperity in the region.

The 10th event is slated to take place in Europe in 2018.

During the event, the Vietnamese National Assembly (NA) Vice Chairman was received by the Mongolian NA Chairman, during which the two sides discussed measures to strengthen the relations between the two NAs and nations.

NA Vice Chairman Luu also had bilateral meetings with delegations from Italy, Russia, Australia, Finland, Laos, Cambodia and Singapore.