Hanoi (VNA) – Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s attendance in the 13th Asia - Europe Meeting (ASEM) Summit and related events will show the importance Vietnam attaches to ASEM and affirm the country’s stature in this forum.

The PM will take part in the meetings on November 25 - 26 via videoconference, at the invitation of his Cambodian counterpart Samdech Techo Hun Sen.

Themed “Strengthening Multilateralism for Shared Growth”, the 13th ASEM Summit is expected to help maintain cooperation in ASEM and enhance Asia - Europe connectivity.

As a founding member, Vietnam has always shown proactive and active participation in and promoted ASEM cooperation for peace, cooperation, and common development in the region.

The 53-member ASEM is important to Vietnam in terms of strategy, economy, politics, security, development, and society.

Over the last 25 years, Vietnam’s stature in this inter-regional cooperation mechanism has been growing thanks to socio-economic achievements, the fulfillment of duties in multilateral organisations, and meaningful contributions to ASEM.

Through ASEM, Vietnam has won support, stepped up the negotiation on its admission to the World Trade Organisation (WTO), and boosted integration into the global economy.

In particular, at the ASEM Summit in Vietnam in 2004, the European Union was the first partner in the world to sign a bilateral agreement supporting the country to become a member of the WTO, which paved the way for many other deals to help Vietnam officially gain the status in 2007.

Besides, Vietnam launched talks on a free trade agreement with the EU in 2010, at the 8th ASEM Summit in Belgium, and finished the negotiation at the 10th ASEM Summit in Italy.

It is assessed as one of the most active members as seen in its proposal, launch, and promotion of many new cooperation ideas. It has also directly carried out and co-sponsored nearly 60 initiatives in different fields. Via these cooperation initiatives, the country has joined other ASEM members in highlighting the benefits of peace, security, and stability, resolving urgent problems, and promoting issues of common concern.

Vietnam’s bilateral relations with other ASEM members have been developing in an increasingly substantive manner. Among them, the EU expects Vietnam will serve as its key partner and connectivity centre in the region.

PM Chinh’s participation in the 13th ASEM Summit and related events will continue reflecting the country’s foreign policy of proactively and actively integrating into the world. It will also demonstrate the importance Vietnam attaches to ASEM, affirm the country’s role and stature in the forum, and help promote multilateral diplomacy.

The Government leader’s attendance will also reiterate Vietnam’s consistent stance on some major issues that affect regional and global peace and stability; protect and promote the country’s priorities and interests in ASEM; and make use of international cooperation to combat the pandemic and accelerate economic recovery./.