Vietnamese Ambassador Duong Hai Hung speaks at the seminar (Photo: VNA) The June 12 event attracted the participation of nearly 50 delegates, who are officials of Italy, ambassadors of several ASEAN member states in the European country, and representatives from leading research and consulting agencies, and universities.
In his opening remarks, Vietnamese Ambassador Duong Hai Hung emphasised that the European Union (EU) and the Indo-Pacific region are closely linked due to their economic interdependence, common global challenges, and the rule of law.
According to Hung, Italy - a founding member of the EU - has made an important contribution to the EU Strategy for Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, and demonstrates its interest and stronger cohesion with the region in the message of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni at the Raisina Dialogue in India and the recent visit to several ASEAN countries by offshore patrol vessel Francesco Morosini.
Dr. Nguyen Hung Son, Vice President of the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam, highlighted the importance of the Indo-Pacific region, home to three-quarters of the world's largest economies, 60% of the global gross domestic product (GDP), and nine of the world’s largest seaports. It is for this reason that about 15 countries have now launched Indo-Pacific strategies to be involved in shaping the future of the most important region in the world and forming new global rules, he said.
If Italy wants to strengthen its engagement with the Indo-Pacific region, ASEAN will be an important partner, because ASEAN is currently the only international organisation accepted by all countries in the Pacific, he stressed.
At the seminar, delegates discussed issues raised through five speeches, represented by Dr. Son and four Italian speakers, to understand more about new developments in the Indo-Pacific region, Italy's role and involvement, as well as potential fields for future people-to-people diplomatic cooperation./.
VNA
