Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh speaks at 10th ASEAN-EU Business Summit (Photo: VNA) The leader, now in Belgium toattend the ASEAN-EU Commemorative Summit, suggested that enterprises shouldstrengthen connectivity, and states should harmonise regulations based on theprinciple of harmonious benefits and shared risks between the state, businessesand people.
Regarding climate change, he emphasised that this matterrequires a global approach, and all related policies must target people and businesses,and they themselves must actively participate in the implementation of thesepolicies.
As the trade relationship between the EU and ASEAN is developingcomprehensively in terms of scale, scope and nature, member countries mustfurther improve the legal corridor and create the best foundation and conditionsfor businesses to continue increasing their capacity, creativeness andresponsibility, and promoting the achieved results.
According to the PM, enterprises should focus on such fieldsas digital, green and circular economy; climate change response; food and energysecurity; and cybersecurity, with priority given to the development of wind andsolar power.
Firms must participate in ensuring social security, payattention to vulnerable groups to leave no one behind, and promote business cultureand ethics.
He affirmed that Vietnam is consistently implementing theforeign policy of independence, self-reliance, multilateralisation anddiversification of foreign relations, for peace, friendship, cooperation anddevelopment. As a country experiencing many years of wars, the peace-lovingVietnam has maintain a consistent viewpoint of settling disputes by peaceful means on thebasis of international law. The country is also striving to build anindependent and self-reliant economy which actively and effectively integratesinto the international community.
Themed “Deepening ASEAN-EU Trade: Sustainable Development for All”, thebusiness summit highlighted the great potential of the ASEAN market, as well asbig opportunities to promote trade and investment cooperation between the twoblocs.
The EU is currently ASEAN's third largest trading partnerwith two-way trade reaching nearly 269 billion USD in 2021, up 18.6% year-on-year.It ranked second in terms of total direct investment in ASEAN in 2021, withabout 26.5 billion USD, up 42.9% year-on-year.
Charles Michel, President of the European Council, stressedthe need for a new approach to the development issue, especially in the exploitationof digital resources, adding that great attention should be paid to climatechange response, environmental protection during the economic developmentprocess.
Earlier, PM Pham Minh Chinh and other leaders joined a workinglunch hosted by the EU-ASEAN Business Council, during which he affirmed thatthere remains an ample room to expand trade cooperation between the twoblocs./.
VNA
