Vietnam’s relations highlighted at ASEM 8

ASEM 8 concluded successfully with a variety of documents and joint communiqués being adopted, showing both continents’ determination to restructure the global economy and build models of sustainable development.

ASEM leaders also approved a number of initiatives to promote cooperation in food security, transportation, forest management, water resource, development, as well as introducing measures to improve its operations.

The conference was also a milestone in the forum’s development with Australia, Russia, and New Zealand joining the group.

In a cooperative spirit, Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung put forward various proposals and initiatives to make ASEM a driving force for sustainable development, and highlighted the central role of ASEM in the regions’ development.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Doan Xuan Hung said that ASEM leaders highly appreciated PM Dung’s two initiatives namely the “ASEM forum on green growth” and the “ASEM forum on social security networks”.

In addition, Vietnam also took part in several important events on the sidelines of the conference. The country brought 30 historically and culturally valuable antiques to the cultural exhibition entitled “The Way to Asia – 2,500 years of Asia-Europe Exchange”.

The Vietnamese delegation not only contributed a great deal to the conference but also had bilateral meetings with other ASEM leaders, which will promote cooperative relations between Vietnam and its partners. Many agreements were reached between Vietnam and countries including Belgium, Japan, China, the Netherlands, Austria, Finland, the UK, Luxemburg, Estonia, and Slovenia.

One of the most important agreements was the Vietnam-Netherlands strategic partnership agreements to deal with climate change and water resources management. The agreement provides an important legal frame for Vietnam to gradually deal with the negative impact of climate change with financial assistance from the Netherlands, said the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment.

The initialing of a Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between Vietnam and the EU was another great step forward made by PM Dung and EU President Jose Manuel Barroso.

Mr. Dung and Mr. Barroso also announced the start of negotiations on a bilateral free trade agreement (FTA) to boost their partnership.

The FTA is expected to lay the foundations for the EU to remove its anti-dumping tax on Vietnam’s leather capped shoes, recognise Vietnam as a full market economy, and grant Vietnam access to the general system of preferences (GPS).

With the participation of both continents, ASEM 8 helped to strengthen ties and promote cooperation between Vietnam and other countries.