Delegates at the dialogue pose for a group photo. (Photo: VNA) The event, held in both online and in-person forms, saw theattendance of nearly 200 delegates from governmental agencies, businesses andsocial organisations, and scholars from 53 member countries of the Asia-EuropeMeeting (ASEM), along with representatives from international organisations.
The high-level policy dialogue was initiated by Vietnamon the occasion of the 25th founding anniversary of the ASEM (1996-2021) and one of themajor activities of the forum this year.
It offered an opportunity for the members todiscuss development orientations and visions of the Asia-Europe partnership in thenew period to effectively contribute to peace, stability, prosperity andsustainable development in the two continents and the world at large.
Its outcomes would significantly contribute to the13th ASEM Summit scheduled to take place on November 25 and 26 in Cambodia.
Vietnamese Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son speaks a the dialogue. (Photo: VNA) The world is witnessing profound transformation in allaspects as a result of scientific and technological breakthroughs, geo-economicand geo-political shifts, the emergence of new, complex, inter-relatedtraditional and non-traditional security challenges, and the impact ofCOVID-19, Son said.
The minister also pointed to numerous hurdles standingin the way of international cooperation, including protectionism,unilateralism, and behaviors that erode international law.
In such a rapidly changing and complex world, the Asia -Europe partnership and cooperation is more important than ever, he said,stressing that it is, in fact, indispensable to the world’s stability andprosperity.
It is high time for ASEM to devise a new vision tocreate new drivers and vitality, and carve out for it a befitting role in theevolving regional and global architecture, the minister said.
He called on the member countries to demonstratestronger resolve, take bolder actions, and choose an appropriate path to moveforward so that ASEM would reap more successes.
It is important for ASEM to prioritise areas that meetthe development needs of its member countries, pay due attention toconfidence-building measures, and contribute through concrete actions to theglobal restructuring process towards inclusive and sustainable development, Son suggested.
To this end, he proposed three major objectives forASEM cooperation in the coming decades, comprising maintaining a favorableinternational environment of peace, stability, dialogue and trust; playing aleading role and making greater efforts to enhance sustainable and inclusivedevelopment; and laying a solid foundation for sustainable, enduring, andmutually beneficial economic ties between Asia and Europe.
At the dialogue (Photo: VNA) The delegates shared the view on the significance ofthe partnership, especially in a rapidly changing and complex world, andcommitted to promoting the close coordination between the member countries.
Appreciating Vietnam’s initiative, they said thedialogue has importantly contributed to maintaining cooperation pace, givenASEM’s activities disrupted by the pandemic.
They said ASEM needs to have a new cooperation visionto better contribute to peace, security, stability and sustainable developmentin the two continents and the world, while meeting development requirements inthe member countries.
They suggested innovation in cooperative activities tobring pragtical benefits to people.
The dialogue has affirmed Vietnam’s role andcontributions to ASEM, as well as joint efforts made by the country and othermember nations in building the Asia-Europe partnership./.
VNA
