PM Phan Van Khai.

Prime Minister Phan Van Khai has praised the contributions made by ministries, sectors and organisations involving in the organisation of the fifth Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM5) in Hanoi last week.

Meeting with representatives of the involved agencies in Hanoi on October 15, Khai said that the ASEM5 was successful, both bilaterally and multilaterally, and that ASEM-5 has raised Vietnam 's international position to a new height.

The PM also spoke highly of organisations, administration and people of Hanoi , other provinces and cities for their efforts in serving the summit.

He stressed the need to draw experiences from organising the ASEM5 to hold other international conferences.

Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the National Committee for ASEM5 Vu Khoan and Foreign Minister Nguyen Dy Nien were also present at the meeting.

(Source: VNA)

VietNamNet – ASEM5 came to a successful conclusion this morning, paving the way for more substantial Asia – Europe co-operation, after meeting sessions that centred on three key pillars: politics, economy and culture.

The panorama of the ASEM5 closing ceremony.

“It gives me great pleasure to inform you that ASEM5 has come to a successful conclusion,” confirmed Prime Minister Phan Van Khai at the closing ceremony.

 

The Prime Minister sincerely thanked delegates who have contributed greatly to the success of the summit. He believed ASEM5 would be remembered as the first expanded summit meeting with the will of reform to transform Asia-Europe ties to a more realistic and dynamic level.

 

At official sessions, ASEM leaders shared their viewpoints on a series of topical issues based on three key pillars, economics, politic and culture. They then adopted three main documents cementing the outcomes of discussions and meetings. These are the “Chairman’s Statement of the Fifth Asia-Europe Meeting”, “Hanoi Declaration on Closer ASEM Economic Partnership” and “ASEM Declaration on Dialogue among Cultures and Civilisations”.

 

During the meetings, leaders have adopted nine new initiatives in fields of economy, investment, trade, science and technology, information technology, culture and social affairs, public health, education and training and two others have been noted. A plan of the future events during the ASEM5 to ASEM6 interval has also been announced. (See the tables)

 

ASEM leaders agreed that to effectively cope with emerging challenges, joint efforts are needed through dialogue and cooperation on the spirit of mutual understanding and respect, equality and mutual benefit to ensure basic interests for stability and development. The two regions need to cooperate effectively to tackle new global challenges of instability, terrorism, the dissemination of weapons of mass destruction, disease, and environmental degradation

 

They agreed to strengthen Asia-Europe trade and investment cooperation, consider the establishment of ASEM bond market and bond funds to boost financial association, facilitating energy, tourism and telecommunications.

 

For the first time ASEM leaders approved a joint declaration on economic co-operation.

 

The “Hanoi Declaration on Closer ASEM Economic Partnership” is to substantiate ASEM economic partnership bringing into full play the potential and synergy of the two continents, to accelerate the process of regional cooperation and integration, to reinforce the sustainability and effectiveness of the partnership and to increase the role of ASEM in the process of economic globalisation.

 

ASEM5 has come to a succesful conclusion: Vietnamese PM Phan Van Khai (centre).

ASEM leaders declared a firm commitment to pursue closer economic cooperation between the two continents through closer economic partnership, aimed at expansion of trade in goods and services and investment.

 

They aimed to move the partnership forward on an equal and fair basis, making use of informal policy dialogues, sharing of information and experience, and joint work on practical and project oriented objectives.

 

The ASEM Declaration on Dialogue among Cultures and Civilisations presents a strong message from the summit on promoting more exchange and greater cooperation in the spirit of unity.

 

They came to a common understanding of the need to further improve ASEM modus operandi in a more dynamic, essential, and effective manner.

 

For proposals that delegates raised at closed sessions, ASEM ministers and senior officials will research and give specific proposals for approval at ASEM6 in Finland in 2006.

 

“Once again, I sincerely thank you for your cooperation with Vietnam during the preparation process of ASEM5. Your commitments are the firm foundations for the stronger development of the ASEM process. Working together for the common goals, we will achieve success,” PM Phan Van Khai concluded his closing speech after reviewing ASEM5’s successes.

 

PM Phan Van Khai wished Finland well as the host of ASEM6 in 2006.

 

In his speech, Finland’s Prime Minister Vanhanen Matti Taneli praised Vietnam’s hospitality and warm, considerate welcome. As the host country of ASEM6, he hoped that Finland will successfully organise ASEM6 and ASEM will be an effective process in the context of globalisation.

 

After the speech by Finland Prime Minister, PM Phan Van Khai called to a close the ASEM5 summit.

 

Report by Thu Anh, photos by Nguyen Vu.

 

List of new initiatives

 

New initiatives adopted by leaders  ASEM cooperation in the applications of ICT in human resource development and capacity building (Vietnam, Sweden, Korea, Brunei, Japan and Ireland) ASEM workshop on EU/Asia S&T cooperation n clean technology (EC and Vietnam) ASEM cooperation on HIV/AIDS control (Sweden, Vietnam, the Netherlands and the Philippines) ASEM trade and investment exposition (China, Austria, and Germany) Concept paper on Asia-Europe young political leaders summit (China and Denmark) Initiative for strengthening cyber security within the ASEM region (Korea, Singapore, Portugal, Germany, Poland, the Philippines and China) ASEM DUO fellowship programme phase II (Korea, Singapore, France, Denmark) ASEM initiative: Inter-faith dialogue (Indonesia, UK and EC) ASEM education and research hub for life long learning (Denmark, Sweden and Thailand). New initiatives taken note by leaders  The ASEM oceans initiative (the Philippines and Portugal) ASEM seminar on health quarantine cooperation to prevent and control communicable diseases (Vietnam)

From ASEM5 to ASEM6: schedule of events

ASEM5 summit	October 8-9	Hanoi, Vietnam
ASEM conference on anti terrorism	October 18-20	Berlin, Germany
4th ASEM workshop on EU/Asia S&T cooperation on clean technology	November 3-4	Hanoi, Vietnam
16th meeting of ASEF BOG	November 22-23	London, UK
ASEM workshop on urban forestry	November 29 – December 3	Suzhou and Beijing, China
8th ASEM young leaders’ symposium	November 30 – December 3	Netherlands
Preparatory meeting for 2nd ASEM conference on cultures and civilisations	January	Malaysia
Standards and conformity assessment conference	Early 2005	Japan
4th ASEM conference on E-commerce “eSolution for a global Economy”	February	London, UK
ASEM education and research hub for life long learning	First quarter of 2005	Denmark
FMM7	May 6-7	Kyoto, Japan
ASEM youth games	June 2-8	Bangkok, Thailand
2nd ASEM conference on cultures and civilisations	June 6-11	France
ASEM symposium on HIV/AIDS control	First half of 2005	Vietnam
ASEM trade and investment exposition	Second half of 2005	China
Inter-faith dialogue	Second half of 2005	Bali, Indonesia
Preparatory meeting for ASEM high-level conference on the applications of ICT in human resource development and capacity building	2005
3rd ASEM environment ministers’ meeting Asia		Asia
TFAP seminars	Ongoing after October 2004	Various to be arranged
IPAP seminars	Ongoing after October 2004	Various to be arranged
Customs cooperation	Ongoing after October 2004	Various to be arranged
Follow-up workshop on e-commerce	2005/2006	France
FnMM 6
EMM6
ASEM6 Summit	September 4-15, 2006	Finland
ASEM high-level conference on the applications of ICT in human resource development and capacity building		Vietnam

VietNamNet – The ASEM 5 Summit themed “Further Revitalising and Substantiating Asia-Europe Partnership” opened this morning in Hanoi, with expectations of increased Asian - European partnership.

The opening ceremony of ASEM5.

In his opening speech, Tran Duc Luong, President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, stressed that the Hanoi Summit should convey a strong message of the Leaders’ clear determination, long term vision and commitment to concrete actions so as to bring the ASEM process to a new development stage toward a comprehensive partnership.

Romano Prodi, President of the European Commission delivered a speech at the opening ceremony. He said the ASEM 5 Summit would provide Europe and Asia with excellent opportunities to forward the interregional dialogue on all points of the comprehensive agenda. He believed the summit would achieve several significant results.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Prime Minister of Japan Junichiro Koizumi, mentioned four tasks to be undertaken at the summit. First will be expansion of cooperation under the ASEM framework in the spirit of solidarity and partnership. Second, further deepen discussions on reform of the United Nations. Third, further promote the revitalization of cooperation within ASEM. Fourth, initiate discussions on the future of ASEM.

Mr Koizumi also said that Japan is ready to give further momentum to the ASEM process by hosting the seventh ASEM Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in May 2005 based on the results of this summit.

At the summit, the Hanoi Declaration on Closer Asia-Europe Economic Partnership will be deliberated and adopted, demonstrating strong commitment to economic cooperation.

The Hanoi Summit will also adopt the Declaration on Dialogue among Cultures and Civilisations which reaffirms ASEM 5’s understanding of the importance of dialogue between different peoples, the value of unity in diversify, as well as the need to promote the cultural identity of each nation.

Nguyet Ha

The fifth Asia Europe Meeting (ASEM5) yesterday expanded its membership to 39, with 13 more nations joining the group in a move to open greater economic opportunities between the two continents and to elevate ASEM's role in the world arena.

The ASEM enlargement ceremony takes place at the Daewoo Hotel in Hanoi last night.

The newcomers include three Southeast Asian nations - Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar - and 10 new EU members - Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia.

Prime Minister Phan Van Khai said the enlargement proved an eloquent testimony to the success and attractiveness of the ASEM process.

"The enlarged ASEM comprises 40% of the world's population and 50% of its GDP. ASEM will emerge as an economic-political entity fully capable of playing an important role in world peace, security and development," he said.

Mr Khai pledged quick and comprehensive support to new members to help them integrate into the ASEM dialogue. The PM said he expected the new members to make active and concrete contributions to revitalising and substantiating the Asia-Europe partnership.

In reply, Cambodia PM Samdech Hunsen said his belief that ASEM's expansion would prove much more than an enlargement of geography; it would open a new horizon for permanent and closer co-operation between the two continents.

"The new member countries will definitely be are able to offer fresh values to the ASEM process and contribute to the trend of regional and continental integration," he said.

Estonian PM Juhan Parts also expressed that Estonia would bring new ideas to ASEM co-operation, especially in the fields of trade and investment.

"We are ready to contribute to making ASEM institutions more effective and to increase dialogue within the group. We will work towards achieving greater economic integration with Asia and more rapid economic reforms in the EU," said Parts. He added that becoming part of the ASEM process was an excellent opportunity for Estonia to co-operate with Asia in a new format and on a new level.

Asian delegations

Leaders of Asian member countries yesterday reached a consensus on the list of topics to be discussed at ASEM5, which will open today.

The leaders also agreed on the documents that will be adopted by ASEM leaders, including the Chairman's Statement, the Hanoi Declaration on Closer Asia Europe Economic Partnership and the Hanoi Declaration on Dialogue between Cultures and Civilisations.

They selected the Republic of Korea and Indonesia as the Asian co-ordinators for the next two years.

(Source: Viet Nam News)

After the ASEM-SOM, senior Asian and European officials joined the inauguration ceremony of the ASEM InfoBoard http://www.aseminfoboard.org at the Daewoo Hotel on October 6.

The launch of this website should back up implementation of decisions made during the 6^th ASEM Foreign Ministerial Meeting last April.

Assistant to the Foreign Minister, Head of Vietnam’s ASEM-SOM delegation, Nguyen Trung Thanh joined several other high-ranking Asian and European officials to press the buttons to inaugurate the website.

This website was designed and operates via the Asia-Europe Fund. The website provides information related to the formation and development of ASEM, from ASEM1 to ASEM5, senior official meetings, activities related to ASEM, ASEM documents, as well as information about ASEM member countries and ASEM partners.

The website is also a channel for information exchange among ASEM member states.

(Source: Nhan Dan)

The official website of ASEM5.

The official ASEM5 website was uploaded and available online on October 4 at the address: http://www.asem5.gov.vn.

The website displays the complete agenda and the latest information about the summit meeting in Vietnamese and English languages.

At the address: http://www.asemconnectvietnam.gov.vn, the Vietnam Trade Information Centre under the Trade Ministry provide an overview and specific data and statistics about the Vietnamese economy, the country’s investment laws, exchange rates and business and investment opportunities for all partners in ASEM.

(Source: Tuoi Tre)