VietNamNet Bridge – The seventh Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM 7) is a political event of great significance for enhancing the partnership between the two continents and affirming the strong development of the ASEM cooperation process.

The ASEM 7 is taking place while the world economy is facing grave difficulties with complicated fluctuations, the worst since the monetary financial crisis of 1997 and 1998.

The ASEM 7 is taking place while the world economy is facing grave difficulties with complicated fluctuations, the worst since the monetary financial crisis of 1997 and 1998. The rising price of oil and cooking has adversely affected the socio-economic development of different countries around the world. Environmental concerns and climate change are becoming urgent issues that need to be solved by coordination within the international community.

Threats of terror and religious and ethnic conflicts continue to create tension in some regions. In that context, the focus of the ASEM7 will be on the above-mentioned issues in the hope of finding measures to promote cooperation between the two continents and address issues of common concern to the ASEM member countries and the international community, under the theme of “Vision and Action: Towards a Win-Win Solution”.

Over the past ten years after ASEM was officially established in March 1996 under Singapore’s initiative, the ASEM cooperation process has developed in a fairly dynamic way. At present, trade value between the two continents accounts for nearly 45 percent of global trade and ASEM member countries also make up more than 50 percent of global GDP.

The forum serves as an important bridge for the Asia-Europe business community, parliaments and non-governmental organisations. ASEM is also considered to be a framework for dialogues and important inter-regional cooperation which gives fresh impetus to promoting comprehensive Asia-Europe cooperation as well as bilateral cooperation among member countries. Since the ASEM 5 was held in Hanoi, Vietnam in October 2004 and the ASEM 6 was held in Helsinki, Finland in September 2006, commitments given by leaders have been implemented effectively. However, ASEM has still much that needs to be done, in which cooperation among member countries must be more substantive and effective and ASEM should play a greater role and carry more weight in resolving international issues. Particularly, ASEM must be strong enough to cope with and mitigate the negative impact of natural disasters and crises like the current global banking and financial crisis. Therefore, ASEM7 is of great significance for member countries to re-adjust their action orientations aimed at building a more substantive and effective vision.

This forum will help ASEM promote a greater mutual understanding between the people of both continents in order to maintain peace, stability and bring into full play necessary conditions for sustainable socio-economic development.

As one of its founders, Vietnam always attaches great importance to participating in ASEM cooperation. PM Nguyen Tan Dung’s attendance at the ASEM7 is a vivid manifestation of Vietnam’s positive contributions to promoting ASEM cooperation in three areas: political dialogues, economy and social and cultural affairs.

The government leader will deliver a speech with a focus on enhancing economic and cultural cooperation among member countries and affirming Vietnam’s support for initiatives from a number of member countries on joint cooperation in culture, energy security and measures to cope with the climate change. These practical contributions will help the ASEM7 to achieve considerable successes and the Asia-Europe cooperation process to become a sustainable and comprehensive partnership for the sake of peace and prosperity, in the spirit of long-term stability and mutual trust among member countries.

(Source: VOV)