Themed “Quality of life”, the 8th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM 8) marksa milestone in efforts to step up cooperation between Asia and Europeto make it a more effective partnership in the 21st century.
Vietnam’s Deputy Foreign Minister Doan Xuan Hung stated this in anarticle on the threshold of ASEM 8, which takes place in the Belgiancapital of Brussels from October 4-5.
WithRussia, Australia and New Zealand also taking part as new members,ASEM 8 will see senior leaders, including Vietnam’s Prime MinisterNguyen Tan Dung, and representatives of 48 nations from both continents.
ASEM – A new opportunity after 14 years
On March 2, 1996, Asian and European leaders approved for the firsttime in history, a decision to ‘build a new, comprehensive partnershipbetween Asia and Europe of mutual respect and benefit.’ Theestablishment of ASEM reflects the aspirations of people from bothcontinents’ to promote cooperation, friendship and mutual understanding.
Up to now, ASEM has convened seven summits and hasbecome a family of 48 states from the 26 original founding members. ASEMnations make up around 60 percent of the worlds population, contribute55 percent of global gross domestic product (GDP) and 65 percent oftrade value.
ASEM 8 takes place at a time when theworld is witnessing profound and rapid changes under the impacts ofglobalisation and the restructuring of international economic andpolitical order. Because of these new opportunities, ASEM has made anenormous effort to strengthen relations with its partners and supportits members as well as reaching new position that matches with its roleand strengths.
To achieve these targets, it has beenagreed that ASEM 8 will focus on global issues and ways of stepping upcooperation within ASEM.
Firstly , increasingjoint working when drawing up polices and reforming the internationalfinancial system and global economic administration, as well as copingwith other global challenges such as climate change, natural disastersand epidemics. More cooperation on these new issues will help ASEM toplay a more central role in the international community.
Secondly, seeking models of sustainable development to meet thedevelopment requirements of the member nations. This is clearlydemonstrated in the bloc’s efforts to build an “Asian-European strategicpartnership”. With the experiences and pioneering role of many ASEMcountries in the field of sustainable development, ASEM has thepotential and capacity to support its members and if it succeeds, ASEMwill have confirmed its prestige and relevance.
Thirdly, contributing more to global and regional cooperationframeworks, especially the United Nations, G-20, the World TradeOrganisation (WTO), the Organisation for Economic Cooperation andDevelopment (OECD), the World Bank (WB) and the International MonetaryFund (IMF). This would help ASEM to strengthen internally and also raiseits standing in the international arena.
Lastly,increasing the efficiency of the ASEM by renewing the operationalmethods, mechanisms, and cooperation between its members.
Vietnam and its positive contributions to ASEM
While implementing its foreign and international integration policies,Vietnam attaches a great deal of importance to ASEM, as the forum isone of the few multilateral mechanisms of which Vietnam is a founder andmany of its members are leading partners of the Southeast Asiancountry.
Over the past 14 years, Vietnam hasmade many contributions to ASEM’s three main pillars – politics,economics and culture. Worthy of note is Vietnam ’s successfulhosting of the 5th ASEM Summit in 2004, the 3rd ASEM Economic Ministers’Meeting in 2001, the 9th ASEM Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in 2009 andthe 2nd ASEM Education Ministers’ Meeting in 2009.
In its capacity as chair and host of these meetings, Vietnam put forwardand adopted, together with the ASEM states, a wide range of importantagreements, including the “Hanoi Declaration on a ‘Closer ASEM EconomicPartnership’ and the ‘ASEM Declaration on Dialogue between Cultures andCivilisations’, which were historical milestones and paved the way forthe ASEM cooperation process.
Vietnam is alsoone of the ASEM members to take the lead in proposing initiatives forAsia-Europe cooperation. The country put forward 12 initiatives and isco-author of 16 others, covering a host of fields ranging from culture,health care, transport, energy security, science, technology, tourismand economics. Vietnam ’s initiatives have been highly rated by manyother ASEM members and have helped to promote cooperation within ASEMitself and serve the development needs of each member, includingVietnam .
While integrating into the global economyand developing diplomatically, Vietnam has contributed a great dealto ASEM and has confirmed its role in other regional and internationalforums.
In its capacity as Chair of ASEAN in 2010,Vietnam has actively contributed to the contents of the eighthAsia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) Summit , thus lifting the bilateralpartnership to a new, more practical and effective level./.
Vietnam’s Deputy Foreign Minister Doan Xuan Hung stated this in anarticle on the threshold of ASEM 8, which takes place in the Belgiancapital of Brussels from October 4-5.
WithRussia, Australia and New Zealand also taking part as new members,ASEM 8 will see senior leaders, including Vietnam’s Prime MinisterNguyen Tan Dung, and representatives of 48 nations from both continents.
ASEM – A new opportunity after 14 years
On March 2, 1996, Asian and European leaders approved for the firsttime in history, a decision to ‘build a new, comprehensive partnershipbetween Asia and Europe of mutual respect and benefit.’ Theestablishment of ASEM reflects the aspirations of people from bothcontinents’ to promote cooperation, friendship and mutual understanding.
Up to now, ASEM has convened seven summits and hasbecome a family of 48 states from the 26 original founding members. ASEMnations make up around 60 percent of the worlds population, contribute55 percent of global gross domestic product (GDP) and 65 percent oftrade value.
ASEM 8 takes place at a time when theworld is witnessing profound and rapid changes under the impacts ofglobalisation and the restructuring of international economic andpolitical order. Because of these new opportunities, ASEM has made anenormous effort to strengthen relations with its partners and supportits members as well as reaching new position that matches with its roleand strengths.
To achieve these targets, it has beenagreed that ASEM 8 will focus on global issues and ways of stepping upcooperation within ASEM.
Firstly , increasingjoint working when drawing up polices and reforming the internationalfinancial system and global economic administration, as well as copingwith other global challenges such as climate change, natural disastersand epidemics. More cooperation on these new issues will help ASEM toplay a more central role in the international community.
Secondly, seeking models of sustainable development to meet thedevelopment requirements of the member nations. This is clearlydemonstrated in the bloc’s efforts to build an “Asian-European strategicpartnership”. With the experiences and pioneering role of many ASEMcountries in the field of sustainable development, ASEM has thepotential and capacity to support its members and if it succeeds, ASEMwill have confirmed its prestige and relevance.
Thirdly, contributing more to global and regional cooperationframeworks, especially the United Nations, G-20, the World TradeOrganisation (WTO), the Organisation for Economic Cooperation andDevelopment (OECD), the World Bank (WB) and the International MonetaryFund (IMF). This would help ASEM to strengthen internally and also raiseits standing in the international arena.
Lastly,increasing the efficiency of the ASEM by renewing the operationalmethods, mechanisms, and cooperation between its members.
Vietnam and its positive contributions to ASEM
While implementing its foreign and international integration policies,Vietnam attaches a great deal of importance to ASEM, as the forum isone of the few multilateral mechanisms of which Vietnam is a founder andmany of its members are leading partners of the Southeast Asiancountry.
Over the past 14 years, Vietnam hasmade many contributions to ASEM’s three main pillars – politics,economics and culture. Worthy of note is Vietnam ’s successfulhosting of the 5th ASEM Summit in 2004, the 3rd ASEM Economic Ministers’Meeting in 2001, the 9th ASEM Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in 2009 andthe 2nd ASEM Education Ministers’ Meeting in 2009.
In its capacity as chair and host of these meetings, Vietnam put forwardand adopted, together with the ASEM states, a wide range of importantagreements, including the “Hanoi Declaration on a ‘Closer ASEM EconomicPartnership’ and the ‘ASEM Declaration on Dialogue between Cultures andCivilisations’, which were historical milestones and paved the way forthe ASEM cooperation process.
Vietnam is alsoone of the ASEM members to take the lead in proposing initiatives forAsia-Europe cooperation. The country put forward 12 initiatives and isco-author of 16 others, covering a host of fields ranging from culture,health care, transport, energy security, science, technology, tourismand economics. Vietnam ’s initiatives have been highly rated by manyother ASEM members and have helped to promote cooperation within ASEMitself and serve the development needs of each member, includingVietnam .
While integrating into the global economyand developing diplomatically, Vietnam has contributed a great dealto ASEM and has confirmed its role in other regional and internationalforums.
In its capacity as Chair of ASEAN in 2010,Vietnam has actively contributed to the contents of the eighthAsia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) Summit , thus lifting the bilateralpartnership to a new, more practical and effective level./.
