(VOV)- Germany and Belgium continue considering Vietnam to be a priority nation for official development assistance (ODA).
Deputy Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son has granted a media interview about the outcomes of the 10th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM 10) and Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung‘s trip to Belgium, Germany and the Vatican.
Following are the gist of the interview:
Reporter:The ASEM 10 transpired on October 16-17 in Milan, Italy is widely seen as a significant landmark in nearly 20 years of the forum’s establishment and development. What is your assessment of the outstanding results and significance of the meeting?Mr Thanh Son: The 10th ASEM took place in the context of the complex international situation with implicit uncertainties. Cooperation and connectivity was a major trend but peace, stability and status quo in different regions are facing huge challenges. Instability, local conflicts, terrorism, territorial disputes are becoming increasingly complex and widespread while the world economic recovery is still slow going with unsustainable and uneven elements. With the theme “Responsible Partnership for Sustainable Growth and Security“, the meeting adopted a Chair’s Statement with important agreements, giving a strong message and joint determination to promote Asia – Europe cooperation in a practical and effective manner.
The meeting achieved an array of outstanding results. First, the ASEM official admission of Croatia and Kazakhstan marked the 5th enlargement of its membership, signifying the growing potentiality for the forum’s expanded cooperation.
The ASEM has grown rapidly after 18 years, double the initial number of 26 founding members to become a large family of 53 members which represents approximately 62% of the world population, 57% of GDP and roughly 68% of global trade.
Second, the meeting agreed to strengthen economic, trade and investment links between the two continents and accelerate the Doha Round with the aim of promoting economic recovery towards sustainable and balanced growth and creating more jobs. Notably, members deemed connectivity as a crucially important factor in ASEM cooperation that need to be realized in three aspects- infrastructure, institution and human resources, including ASEAN connectivity.
Third, the conference underlined the urgent need for increased cooperation to cope with global issues in a world intertwined with a lot of challenges and wide-ranging multidimensional impacts. The current priorities are given to fulfilling the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in 2015, building a post-2015 agenda covering poverty reduction, climate change adaptation, natural disasters, food security, and water resource management.
Fourth, members showed special interests and shared common perceptions on strengthened cooperation to maintain peace and prevent conflicts, ensure stability and prosperity. The Chair‘s Statement emphasized the importance of maintaining maritime security and safety, refraining from the use of force or threat to use force, peacefully resolving disputes on the basis of respect for international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
The conference supported ASEAN’s central role and its important contributions to the Asia – Pacific region.
From the aforesaid outstanding results along with the adoption of 24 new initiatives and establishment of 18 cooperation groups, the ASEM 10 showed its dynamic growth and rising status of the Eurasian forum.
Reporter:Could you please elaborate on Vietnam’s positive and responsible contributions to common interests at the ASEM 10?Mr.Thanh Son: To boost a comprehensive international integration, the Vietnamese delegation made the remarkable contributions to the success of the ASEM 10.
PM Nguyen Tan Dung was one of the six leaders representing 53 members invited to give a speech at the 14th Asia- Europe Business Forum and, a keynote introductory speaker in the plenary session on global issues.
We received great support for two new initiatives for poverty alleviation and skills training for transition to green growth model. We co-sponsored the initiative of the host country (Italy) on employment for Eurasian youths.
Member states highly appreciated our practical suggestions to increase ASEM contributions to joint efforts in narrowing the development gap, enhancing Mekong sub-region connectivity, new approaches and innovations on food- water resources – energy security.
To be continued…
Đăng ký: VietNam News
