Conference seeks to enhance Asia-Europe partnership

PANO – A conference themed “Enhancing comprehensive Asia-Europe partnership in the 21^st century” was held on April 20^th by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Hanoi. Deputy Prime Minister (PM) and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh attended.

Addressing the conference, Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh stressed the fact that Asia and Europe are facing a wide range of global challenges which cannot be solved by any single country. He also raised the question of “What could and should the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) do to further enhance cooperation?”

Economic reform and regional connection prioritized
This is the first policy-level conference on ASEM held by Vietnam since it hosted the 5^th ASEAN Summit in 2004. The conference reviewed the past 20 years of  the establishment and development of ASEM. The event also contributed to the direction of ASEM cooperation in the next ten years. A document summarizing event results will be submitted to the 11th ASEM Summit to be held in Mongolia this July 15^th to 17^th, as the ASEM  celebrates its 20^th  anniversary.

Delegates at the conference

The conference drew the participation of around 150 delegates both at home and overseas, a number of ambassadors to Vietnam, representatives of diplomatic agencies, and well-known domestic and international speakers. Regarding the two plenary sessions, delegates stressed the fact that over the past 20 years, ASEM has proved its role as an important, prestigious - and the major - dialogue mechanism between Asia and Europe, boosting regional and international cooperation and connection.

Delegates at the conference highlighted the fact that the world in the 21^st century is fast- and ever-changing. Therefore, all 53 ASEM member nations attach special importance to cooperation and achievements, clearly showing the trend of cooperation in dealing with matters of common concern, such as economic recovery, peacekeeping, security maintenance, stability, and other global challenges.

Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh stressed that there are challenges for ASEM in the coming time, as the world economy has been basically moving forwards with various different models. In the multi-centralized context, a good number of regional cooperation mechanisms have been strengthened, in parallel with the formation of more flexible and diversified new cooperation and connection mechanisms.

The unprecedented vigorous development of globalization and information technology also complicates the scenario, increasing interdependence and connection at all levels. Each and every country is in need of enhancing cooperation for their economic reforms, expansion of cooperation, and interests.

The Deputy PM and Foreign Minister went further when they proposed that the conference work on defining contents to enhance ASEM’s practical, effective and deep cooperation. They also proposed a focus on sustainable development and other important matters, such as: coping with global challenges, enhancement of dialogue, shared standards and codes of conduct, respect for international law, economic restructuring, regional connection, and more.

These issues require that ASEM members increase cooperation and connection, and find more momentum for development, with deeper and multi-sectorial cooperation.

Agreeing with the Deputy PM, the Thai Ambassador to Vietnam emphasized the role of ASEM in forming the face of the world in the 21^st century.  

The ASEM mechanism has contributed significantly to meeting the interests of member nations in the past. Connection among ASEM members has also been stepped up, due to an increase in shared interests and to the two continents’ common goals of sustainable development and prosperity.

ASEM – an important factor in Vietnam’s renewal process
Concerning the active and substantial contribution of Vietnam to ASEM over the past 20 years, Deputy Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son affirmed that Vietnam has always been an active and responsible ASEM member.

So far, Vietnam’s most significant contributions to ASEM have been: its successful organization of the 5th ASEM Summit in 2004; 5 ministerial meetings on economy, technology-information, foreign affairs, education, and labour (2001-2012); the proposal of 21 initiatives; and joining 24 initiatives.

ASEM cooperation has always played an important role in the renewal process, international integration, and the development of Vietnam. 19  of 26 strategic partners and comprehensive partners of Vietnam are ASEM members, covering 70% of the FDI and international trade value in Vietnam, and constituting 80% of the foreign tourists to the country. And out of the 16 free trade agreements Vietnam has signed, 14 are with ASEM members. So Vietnam has contributed significantly to the development of the ASEM mechanism.

Translated by Huu Duong