Vietnam has joined the host India and other ASEM members in affirming the forum as one of the important inter-regional cooperative and dialogue mechanisms in the time to come.

Deputy Foreign Minister Ha Kim Ngoc, head of the Vietnam delegation to the 11th ASEM Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, made the statement when talking with the press on the meeting, as well as Vietnam’s contribution to the event.

Taking place in New Delhi, India, on November 11-12, the meeting, themed “ASEM – Bridging partnership for growth and development”, comes as the most important activity of ASEM in 2013.

With the adoption of the President Statement with four important documents on cooperative directions and programmes of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) in the time to come, it manifests ASEM’s joint determination in reviving the global economy as well as trust in the multilateral trade system, Ngoc said.

It gave priority to coping with non-traditional challenges, including water, food and energy security, environmental changes, disasters, epidemics, terrorism, network security, and maritime security and safety.

At the press conference, Ngoc said the member countries shared the views on the joint benefits to be gained by maintaining peace, stability, maritime security and safety and settling disputes by peaceful means in line with international law.

Many of them highlighted the recent achievements made by ASEAN and China in fully and effectively realising the Declaration of Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), and their efforts towards a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (DOC).

Ngoc said the contributions and initiatives made by Vietnam, especially on water resources management, received strong support and co-sponsorship from ASEM member countries.

They also applauded Vietnam’s first-time hosting of the 14th ASEM informal seminars on economy and human rights in 2014.

Established in 1996, ASEM now connects 51 member countries from Asia and Europe. ASEM nations make up around 60 percent of the world’s population, contribute 50 percent of global gross domestic product (GDP) and 70 percent of global trade value.-VNA