Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh highlighted this issue at the Conference under the theme of "Promoting Comprehensive Asia-Europe Partnership in the 21st Century" held on April 20 in Hanoi.The conference reviewed the cooperation within the framework over the last 20 years, opportunities and challenges faced by ASEM members in the context of new developments in both Asia and Europe, as well as discussed outlook for ASEM cooperation in the next decade.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh made a speech at the conference
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Founded in March, 1996, ASEM has been and continues to be an important factor in shaping the global setting in the 21st century. The forum is gradually bringing vital benefits to its members in their endeavors to sustain peace, security, stability and economic recovery, and to respond to global challenges.
ASEM, said the host leader, has so far evolved to become a big family of 53 members. The sense of community among ASEM members is becoming even stronger with the increasing shared interests. That is peace, stability and cooperation for sustainable development and prosperity in both continents.
In the “multi-centered” setting and amid the observable trend in democratization in international relations, numerous existing regional mechanisms have been consolidated alongside with the formation of many new ones. They are more diverse and flexible by nature. The unprecedented development of globalisation and information technology is deepening interdependence among all players and promoting linkages at all levels, said the Deputy PM.
Asia and Europe are witnessing strong growth of partnerships and next-generation free trade agreements. Global challenges are growing with greater complexity. They cannot be dealt with by any individual country or region. There have been a series of burning issues such as increasing poverty and development gap, climate change, natural disasters, salinization, population ageing, urbanization, the water - energy - food nexus, etc.
The Deputy PM called on ASEM to define and promote new elements to enhance ASEM's effective, relevant and in-depth cooperation; develop a new concept and a comprehensive approach that ensure the harmony between the informal nature and the efficiency of ASEM cooperation and create concrete outcomes; boost human-centered innitiatives and mechanisms so as to encourage people’s engagement in ASEM’s activities and provide them with tangible benefits. Viet Nam can make robust and meaningful contributions to ASEM.
For Viet Nam, ASEM cooperation is of great importance to its reform, development and far-reaching international integration. ASEM is home to 19 out of 26 strategic and comprehensive partners of Viet Nam, making up 70% of our FDI and international trade, and 80% of international tourists to Viet Nam.
