Vietnam emphasises ASEM role

The statement was made by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem, head of the Vietnamese delegation to the meeting, while answering reporters’ questions on Vietnam’s contributions to the event, themed “Working together on non-traditional security challenges.” 

As the host country of the previous meeting, Vietnam was one of the members invited to deliver speeches at the opening ceremony and many discussions of this meeting, he said. 

“Vietnam, together with other ASEAN members, further affirmed ASEAN’s central role in shaping the regional structure, which is reflected in its strong efforts in building the ASEAN Community in 2015 and deepening ties with partners,” Mr Khiem stressed. 

Many ASEM members agreed on Vietnam’s proposed measures to consolidate peace, security and development in the region in the face of recent complex developments, including ensuring marine safety and security, he said. 

Vietnam suggested that ASEM strengthen cooperation in dealing with non-traditional security challenges, especially climate change forecasts and early warnings of natural disasters, rescue, mitigation of climate change impact on agriculture and the ecological environment, establishment of information networks, and coordination in ensuring marine safety and security, as well as support for regional and subregional cooperation among ASEM members, particularly programmes on sustainable development, poverty reduction and development gap narrowing. 

“Many ASEM members highly valued Vietnam’s proposal on strengthening cooperation and sharing experience in the sustainable management, exploitation and use of rivers running through many territories such as Danube and Mekong in the principle of ensuring equality among nations in accessing water resources, boosting mutual cooperation for economic development, addressing social issues and preventing the spread of diseases to riverside people,” the Deputy PM said. 

The meeting applauded and supported Vietnam’s hosting of the fourth ASEM Labour and Employment Ministers’ Conference in 2012, he added. 

During the meeting, the Vietnamese delegation had exchanges with many head delegates from ASEM members, including the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security, the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Belgium and foreign ministers of Hungary, Japan, Indonesia and Singapore. 

Mr Khiem said the exchanges focused on measures to boost bilateral relations and coordination in international and regional issues of common concern. 

The ASEM members expressed their delight at the rapid development of friendship and cooperation with Vietnam and highly valued the country’s active contributions as ASEAN Chair in 2010 and host of the 9th ASEM Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in 2009, he said. 

Mr Khiem further said the ASEM members agreed to promote the exchange of high-ranking visits, speed up the implementation of the approved agreements and ODA projects and work towards the early signing of the Vietnam-EU comprehensive partnership and cooperation agreement, actively prepare for negotiations on the Vietnam-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and broaden cooperation in various fields. 

They also agreed to closely coordinate at regional and international forums, and voiced concerns over recent developments in the East Sea , said the Deputy PM. 

The results of the meeting have actively contributed to consolidating the long-term and mutually beneficiary cooperation between Vietnam and ASEM partners, he concluded. 

According to the Vietnamese representative, the year 2011 marks 15 years of establishment and development of ASEM, which serves as an unique and irreplaceable bridge to the vital growth of Asia-Europe partnership. 

As the world in general and ASEM in particular are confronted with a series of complicated and inserted traditional and non-traditional security challenges, the 10th ASEM Foreign Ministers’ Meeting focused discussions on regional and international issues as well as ASEM cooperation, he said. 

The meeting’s important results were confirmed by the adoption of the Statement of the Chair, which sets out orientations for cooperation policies, he added.