Viet Nam actively contributes to ASEM activities, says FM
(07/25/2003 -- 22:42GMT+7)
Jakarta, July 25 (VNA)- Viet Nam, in its capacity as a coordinator and the host country of the ASEM (Asia-Europe Meeting) Summit in 2004 "has been making active contributions to ASEM's activities," Foreign Minister Nguyen Dy Nien told the press in Bali, Indonesia, where he attended the fifth ASEM foreign ministers' meeting on July 23-24.
As an Asian coordinator country since 2000, Viet Nam has worked with the host, Indonesia, and other coordinators such as Japan, Italy and the EC to prepare and successfully organise the ministerial meeting, Nien said.
He elaborated that Viet Nam has helped to boost cooperation between, and responded to the requirements and interests of, the ASEM members.
Viet Nam's delegation has actively prepared for the 5th ASEM Summit by having separate talks with many other delegations, especially those of coordinator countries, followed by official talks at the meeting's sessions.
To further enhance cooperation within the ASEM framework, Viet Nam has supported and shared China's call for an ASEM symposium on curbing outbreaks of diseases. "This bears a special meaning since Viet Nam is the first country to successfully contain the SARS outbreak and has accumulated experiences in dealing with epidemics."
On preparations for the 5th ASEM Summit in 2004, FM Nien said that the just-concluded foreign ministers' meeting had agreed that active ASEM cooperation had helped raise the prestige of both continents; however, the cooperation is facing many challenges and it is necessary to maintain ASEM's cooperation impetus. "Therefore, ASEM 5 should become an important milestone in further promoting and developing the equal partnership cooperation between Asia and Europe and promoting the attractiveness of ASEM by expanding membership from both continents."
He said the meeting reached consensus on the theme and contents of the summit and pledged to closely coordinate with Viet Nam during preparatory work.
Nien stressed that further preparations would focus on development of the agenda in line with the theme of the summit and construction of the conference centre. Viet Nam should also promote dissemination of information about ASEM 5 in the country and abroad, as well as improving the resources of officials and workers serving the summit whilst effectively using foreign aid in the preparation work, the FM added.
The summit will certainly be successful and help raise ASEM to a new statue, Nien said.
