Vietnam’s initiatives hailed at 12th ASEM foreign ministers’ meeting

Vietnam made active contributions to the success of the freshly concluded 12^th Foreign Ministerial Meeting of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) in Luxembourg, while its initiatives voiced during the event were welcomed by many member countries, stated Deputy Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son.

The country’s proposal on the organisation of the “ASEM conference on natural disaster management and mitigation: innovations and technologies for sustainable development and self-resilience”, has been widely supported and received encouragement from a large number of ASEM members, he noted.

Meanwhile, participants at the event also lauded Vietnam’s practical initiatives to enhance ASEM’s contributions to global efforts in narrowing the development gap, strengthening the Greater Mekong Sub-region’s connectivity, and creating new approaches to sustainable development and the increase of businesses’ involvement.

They also pledged to continue realising Vietnam’s initiatives on poverty reduction and green growth in 2016, Son said.

He noted that ASEM members also agreed with Vietnam’s proposal on strengthening dialogue; cooperation; and the maintenance of peace, security and stability in Southeast Asia, including the East Sea.

At the same time, bilateral meetings between the Vietnamese delegation and officials from the host country, as well as ministers and heads of ASEM delegations, also promoted bilateral ties, coordination and mutual support at international and multi-lateral forums, the Deputy FM said.

He also affirmed that the event’s fruitful outcomes and bilateral meetings showed ASEM plays an important role in trans-regional dialogue and cooperation mechanisms, allowing Vietnam to act as a responsible member and show its willingness to join hands to deal with regional and world-wide challenges.

At the two-day event, participants also agreed on facilitating ASEM dialogue and the 2030 agenda on sustainable development, including poverty reduction, response to climate change and natural disasters, food security, water resources management, capacity building and technology transfer.

Ministers also reached a new global consensus on mitigating disaster risks and underscored the strengthening of Asia-Europe connectivity in infrastructure, institutions and society, moving toward sustainable, uniform economic growth.

They agreed to continue the senior officials’ meetings on trade and investment, considering it a way to revive economic ties that have been stalled for the past decade.

On regional and global issues, they stressed the significance of maintaining maritime security and safety; refraining from unilateral actions, the use of force or threats to use force; the peaceful settlement of disputes in line with international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Many stressed the need to ensure maritime and aviation security, safety and freedom, and free trade, in the East Sea, saying the matter is a concern shared by the international community.