PM to push implementation of ASEM initiatives

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc

In the context of integration and economic connectivity trends and the formation of free trade agreements with global impacts and new international financial institutions, ASEM continues to be an important dialogue forum promoted by its member nations in a bid to strengthen economic recovery and deal with global challenges.

Themed: “20 Years of ASEM: Partnership for Future through Connectivity,” the event will focus on global issues, the review of partnership within the forum in the last decades and future cooperation orientations, Asia-Europe connectivity and developments in the two regions.

As part of the 12th Party Congress’s diplomatic policy that attaches importance to fostering extensive international integration and improving the quality and efficiency of multilateral diplomacy, Vietnam has actively participated in ASEM activities.

The country organised the conference: “Enhancing the comprehensive Asia-Europe Partnership in the 21st century” in Hanoi on April 20, at which it contributed to working out orientations for ASEM cooperation in the next decade to submit to the 11th ASEM Summit. This was the first policy conference on ASEM hosted by Vietnam since the 5th ASEM Summit.

This year Vietnam has been implementing three initiatives. It hosted an ASEM youth week from March 31 to April 7 on raising young people’s awareness about cooperation on poverty reduction. Two more ASEM events will be held in Vietnam later this year, which are a conference on natural disaster management and relief for sustainable development slated for September, and a forum on green skills towards comprehensive growth scheduled for October.

Since joining ASEM in 1996, Vietnam has been an active and responsible member of ASEM and always upholds its role and position at the forum.

The country successfully hosted the 5th ASEM Summit in 2004 along with five ministerial meetings in economics, information technology, diplomacy, education and labour. It also proposed measures concerning ASEM expansion and joined other ASEM members in approving important and directional documents and decisions in ASEM cooperation such as the “Hanoi Declaration on Closer ASEM Economic Partnership”, the “ASEM Declaration on Dialogue among Civilisations and Cultures,” and “Recommendations for ASEM Working Methods.”

Vietnam has also proposed 22 initiatives and co-sponsored 25 others, becoming one of the most active members of the cooperation mechanism.

At present, the country is joining the forum’s three cooperation groups in water management, natural disaster response and vocational training.