Vietnam to host 13th ASEM Customs DG-Commissioners Meeting

The GDVC plans to propose some priorities to be added into the ASEM customs action plan for 2019-2019 period, including applying the Fourth Industrial Revolution (Industry 4.0) in enhancing connection of IT systems to serve effective customs management, promoting customs-business partnership, protecting the environment, society and security, and facilitating supply chain, Nguyen Viet Nga, deputy head of the GDVC’s International Cooperation Department, said at the press conference on October 24.

Hosting the event, the General Department hopes to make contributions to boosting regional linkages and cooperation in customs in the context of Industry 4.0 and global challenges in the fight against terrorism, and pressure on maintaining sustainable economic growth in response to climate change.

The ASEM was officially set up in 1996 following the political initiative to foster dialogue and cooperation between Asia and Europe.

It provides an open forum for policy makers and officials to discuss any political, economic and socio-cultural issues of common interest. ASEM covers the full spectrum of relations between the two regions and devotes equal weight to political, economic and socio-cultural dimensions. 

ASEM works on three pillars of politics, economy and finance, and society, culture and education. Customs cooperation in ASEM is included in the economic and financial pillar, with priority to promoting the implementation of multilateral trade system in the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

The ASEM Customs Directors-General and Commissioners Meeting has been organised biennially as a forum directing working groups to realise action plans in approved periods.

During 2018-2019, the ASEM customs action plan will focus on measures to boost collaboration in prioritised sectors, comprising facilitation of trade and customs procedures, combating counterfeiting goods, one-door customs mechanism, border management of international parcels.