The ASEM High-level Policy Dialogue themed “ASEM at 25: Strengthening Asia-Europe Partnership in a Transforming World” took place on June 22 in both online and in-person forms with the participation of nearly 200 delegates.

The dialogue was initiated by Viet Nam on the occasion of the 25th founding anniversary of the ASEM (1996-2021) and one of the major events of the forum this year.

It provided an opportunity for the ASEM members to chart development orientations and visions of the Asia-Europe partnership in the new period to effectively contribute to peace, stability, prosperity and sustainable development in the two continents and the world as well.

Its outcomes would significantly contribute to the 13th ASEM Summit scheduled to take place on November 25 and 26 in Cambodia.

In his opening remarks, Vietnamese Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son said the participation of Ministers, representatives of government agencies, scholars, businesses, and community stakeholders from the member countries, vividly demonstrates the shared resolve to promote Asia-Europe partnership for peace, stability and prosperity.

In order for ASEM to continue to succeed in the next 25 years, Bui emphasized the need to demonstrate stronger resolve, take bolder actions, and choose an appropriate path to move forward.

“It is important for ASEM to prioritize areas that meet the development needs of its member countries, pay due attention to confidence-building measures, and contribute through concrete actions to the global restructuring process towards inclusive and sustainable development,” stressed Bui.

From such perspective, the Vietnamese FM said ASEM needs to contribute to the maintenance of a favorable international environment of peace, stability, dialogue and trust by making “expanded efforts” to increase international understanding and build trust. 

ASEM should also play a critical role in promoting multilateralism and the UN-centered international system, upholding international law, and addressing global challenges. Moreover, the Forum needs to assert its pioneering role in helping shape a global governance system of greater effectiveness, fairness, and more democratic.

It should also play a leading role and make greater efforts to enhance sustainable and inclusive development, in which top priority should be to support member countries in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals under the 2030 Agenda, and to step up cooperation in such areas as climate change response, environmental protection, water resource management, circular economy, and high-quality human resource development.

Bui went on to say that enhancing Asia-Europe economic connectivity will bring benefits to all and needs to be implemented in sync across allsectors from trade, investment, finance, industries to regional connectivity and digital economy, adding that such endeavor has become highly relevant, particularly at a time when our economies are striving to rebound from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic./.