Hanoi (VNA) – The Vietnamese delegation’sactive participation at the recent 14th Asian-Europe Meeting (ASEM) Foreign Ministers’Meeting highlighted the country’s reputation and responsible contributions toimportant regional and global multilateral issues, an official has said.

Reviewing the event that took place on December15-16 in Spain’s Madrid, Nguyen Minh Hang, head of Vietnam’s ASEM SeniorOfficials’ Meeting (SOM) delegation, said the ASEM members, consisting of 21Asian and 30 European countries, agreed the forum needs to continue taking thelead in promoting multilateralism and a rules-based world order, consolidatingmultilateral trade and fighting all forms of protectionism.

They shared the view that multilateralcooperation needs to centre on the people and focus on human resourcesdevelopment, scientific-technological and innovation capacity improvement,sustainable use of maritime resources, marine debris prevention, andinter-regional cooperation in cross-border water resources management.

On the basis of the outcomes of the ASEMconnectivity plan of action adopted at the ASEM Summit last year, participantsagreed to step up ASEM connectivity, focusing on such fields as policy, trade,investment, energy, customs facilitation, digital connectivity, transport, and infrastructure.

They also affirmed their commitment tomaintaining peace, stability, safety and freedom of navigation and aviation, andpreventing economic activities from being hampered.

They also stressed the importance of peacefullysettling disputes in line with international law, especially the United NationsCharter and the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea; not using or threateningto use force; not taking unilateral actions that run counter to internationallaw; implementing trust building measures; exercising self-restraint; andrespecting diplomatic and legal processes, as well as the rights of coastalcountries in their seas, according to Hang.

She noted that together with the UN ClimateChange Conference (COP25) also held in Madrid earlier this month, the successof this ASEM meeting substantially contributed to multilateralism promotion andaffirmed ASEM’s dynamism, thus better meeting people’s interests and helpingmaintain peace, stability, cooperation, and sustainable and prosperousdevelopment in the two regions and the world.

At the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister andForeign Minister Pham Binh Minh pointed out opportunities and challenges formultilateral cooperation while raising proposals for strengthening Asia-Europecooperation to help enhance the vitality of multilateral cooperation. Theseproposals were welcomed by other members, Hang said.

She added the ASEM members also showed theirsupport for the efforts made by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations(ASEAN) and Vietnam’s priorities for 2020, when the country takes the ASEANchairmanship, to press on with building a rules-based, people-oriented, cohesiveand responsive community.

Vietnam’s proposal about fostering ASEMcooperation in women’s economic empowerment in the digital era was assessed asone of the most practical initiatives at the meeting that received widespreadsupport and was co-sponsored by many other members.

Regarding the East Sea issue, the head ofVietnam’s ASEM SOM delegation, said many participating countries also agreedwith Vietnam on the necessity to boost dialogue, trust-building, adherence tointernational and common standards, the full and effective implementation ofthe Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea. They also backed thebuilding of an efficient and effective code of conduct in the waters, thushelping maintain peace and stability in Asia-Pacific, and ensuring security,stability and freedom of navigation and aviation to build the waters into a seaof peace, cooperation and development.

At the meeting, ASEM countries spoke highly ofVietnam’s growing stature, development achievements, reform efforts andextensive integration into the world, she said, noting that the European Unionand its members advocated the early ratification of the EU-Vietnam Free TradeAgreement and the bilateral Investment Protection Agreement.

They agreed to create favourable conditions forbusinesses to grasp trade and investment opportunities generated by theeconomic partnerships Vietnam has been implementing. They pledged to enhancecoordination with the country when it serves as ASEAN Chair in 2020 and as anon-permanent member of the UN Security Council for 2020-2021.

Hang said ASEM is an important cooperationmechanism for Vietnam to promote its interests and concerns about developmentand security. Gathering 22 of the 30 strategic and comprehensive partners ofVietnam, the forum also provides a framework to reinforce the country’srelations with key partners in the two regions./.