VIENTIANE (VNS) — Maintaining peace should be the priority of
every country, so all disputes should be settled by peaceful measures when
possible, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung said yesterday during a discussion of
regional issues under the framework of the ninth Asia-Europe meeting (ASEM).
The world is transitioning into a
new development period, which brings both new opportunities and
security-related challenges, the Prime Minister said.
He added that Viet Nam highly
appreciates that Laos, as the host country for the 9th ASEM, chose the theme of
"Friends for Peace, Partners for Prosperity," as it is impossible to
gain prosperity without peace and stability.
Dung also emphasized that the central
role ASEAN serves is to keep the regional environment peaceful and
co-operative, and said the country would do its part to help with this mission.
The relations between ASEAN and
its partners have been intensified via mechanisms of ASEAN+1, ASEAN +3, ASEAN
Security Forum, East Asia Summit and the extended ASEAN Defence Ministers'
Meeting.
When the discussion broadened to
include global issues, the PM suggested that such matters be addressed based on
a long-term, comprehensive and multi-sectoral vision in harmony with the
Millenium Development Goals including environmental protection, hunger
eradication and poverty reduction and gender equity.
He also said it is necessary to
keep making efforts to reform the United Nations and international financial
institutions and heighten the effectiveness of the current regional and
inter-regional co-operation mechanisms.
PM also suggested specific
programs be implemented to solve emerging development issues, especially in
forecasting climate change, issuing early warnings about natural disasters and
conserving water resources.
He said these issues are of
interest to many countries in the Asia Pacific region, an area whose population
makes up more than 60 per cent of the world but that possesses only 30 per cent
of the world's water resources and suffers more than 70 per cent of global
natural disasters.
Viet Nam has suggested holding an
ASEM summit on natural disaster prevention and combating climate change along
with Laos, Indonesia, Germany, Parkistan, Denmark, Netherlands and the European
Commission.
Global crisis
Also during the 9th Asia-Europe
Meeting in Vientiane, which concluded yesterday, ASEM leaders agreed Asia and
Europe need to work together to address the current global crisis and pave the
road for more sustainable global growth.
Trade and economic issues
dominated the two-day intensive discussion. Noting the substantial
uncertainties and downside risks brought in by the global slowdown, ASEM
members emphasised the need to reinforce economic partnerships while awaiting
the gradual recovery of the European economy. They welcomed the robust
performance of emerging Asian economies.
Leaders were resolved to promote
growth by restoring confidence in the market and making the financial system
more transparent, Lao Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong, the chair of the
summit, said.
European leaders took this
opportunity to reassure their Asian counterparts that the worst of the
sovereign debt crisis was over.
"The Eurozone is on the
right track. The euro is an irreversible project. It is expected that growth
will start picking up in the course of 2013," said Herman Van Rompuy,
president of the European Council.
ASEM leaders recognised the role
of the private sector in contributing to economic growth and encouraged firms
to work together to increase investment and trade flow.
The leaders reaffirmed their
commitment to promote trade via an open, fair, transparent and rule-based
multilateral trading system and resist all forms of protectionism.
Rompuy said: "The EU is negotiating
free trade agreements with many Asian countries to further expand our markets;
it is also open to negotiating investment agreements to boost cooperation and
create a level playing field."
The importance of regional
integration processes was also highlighted during the summit. Leaders stressed
the importance of strengthening regional connectivity to support economic
integration, including through sub-regional initiatives within Asia and Europe.
The European Union recognised the
important role of ASEAN in building pan-regional security architecture in Asia.
Leaders reaffirmed their
commitment to enhancing political dialogue and maintaining peace and stability,
indispensable conditions for establishing sustainable development and
prosperity for the two regions.
They have adopted the Vientiane
Declaration on Strengthening Partnership for Peace and Development, which aims
to promote lasting peace in Asia and Europe.
Leaders also exchanged views on
current regional and global issues including climate change, non-proliferation
and disarmament, and nuclear safety.
The next summit will be held in
Brussels, Belgium in 2014.
VNS
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