The 11th ASEM themed “ 20 Years of ASEM: Partnership for Future through Connectivity” 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.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.
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc
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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.
As one of the 26 co-founders, Vietnam has continuously and actively participated in the ASEM which was established in March 1996, with a number of initiatives and positive contributions. The country is also one of the pioneers to register the issue-based leadership, including climate change, human resources development, HIV/AIDS prevention and epidemic outbreak control, and culture and tourism.
ASEM now consists of 53 members. It represents 63 percent of the world’s population, accounts for 57 percent of the global GDP and 68 percent of trade value. The purpose of ASEM event is enhancing members’ understanding of Asia-Europe partnership and the ASEM process, raising awareness among the youth of potential cooperation on poverty eradication, and providing them a platform to take actions in the fight against hunger. Participants will also promote connectivity and future of ASEM.
