ASEM 9 commits to strengthening peace and prosperity

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and his entourage returned to Hanoi on November 6 after attending the 9 th summit of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM 9).Speaking to the press, Deputy Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son said the two-day summit in the Laos capital Vientiane yielded new fruits and progress in the Asia-Europe relations.It created a momentum for the safeguarding of peace, security, stability, cooperation and development between the two continents, he continued.A prominent outcome of the summit is the 4 th expansion of ASEM with the official admission of Bangladesh, Norway and Switzerland .Son highlighted that ASEM leaders declare their common determination to overcome the economic downturn and help restore the global economy.The summit agreed to increase financial cooperation and connectivity, facilitate trade and investment, job creation, and shift to a green and sustainable growth model.Leaders pledged to continue a joint effort to push the multilateral trade system and the Doha negotiations, and welcomed the recent admission of Laos and Russia into the World Trade Organisation. They supported proposals by the 13 th Asia-Europe Business Forum to accelerate trade and investment, guarantee food and energy security, and strengthen regional connectivity between European economies and the Greater Mekong Sub-region.The summit reached important agreements on the orientation of cooperation to cope with global challenges both traditional and non-traditional, including accelerating development cooperation and the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals, and dealing with climate change.Leaders stressed the need to continue reforming global governance institutions, with the role of emerging and developing economies brought into full play.They emphasised that to overcome the global economic challenges, it is paramount to maintain regional peace, security and stability, and to increase dialogues, cooperation and connectivity.The summit highlighted the efforts of ASEM members, especially the central role and cooperation mechanisms of ASEAN, in settling regional differences and disputes through peaceful negotiations on the basis of the UN Charter and international law.Member countries valued Vietnam’s active participation and responsible contributions to maintaining regional peace, security and stability.Vietnam tabled many practical proposals to harmonise interests in many fields of cooperation such as strengthening the economic cooperation pillar, the shift of the growth model, developing a green economy, and improving the regional and inter-regional relations.While attending the summit, PM Dung met with many leaders of other ASEM member countries, including the Party General Secretary and President of Laos, the Presidents of France, Bulgaria and Indonesia, and the Prime Ministers of Japan, Australia, Finland, Italy, Slovenia and Luxemburg.During those meeting, Dung discussed measures to build all-around friendship and cooperation, especially in the fields of economy and trade, and exchanged views on international and regional issues of mutual concern.Country leaders spoke positively of Vietnam ’s efforts in stabilising and restructuring the economy, and agreed to expand partnerships with Vietnam.They agreed that both Europe and Asia-Pacific are facing complicated economic, political and security development and, in that context, more than ever the ASEM member countries need to strengthen relationships to maintain an environment of peace, security and stability in the region to revitalise the economy.(Tuoitrenews)