Elevating ASEM cooperation in its third decade

TIN LIÊN QUAN
	Da Nang hosts 37th ASEF Board of Governors meeting
	For peace and sustainable development in ASEM

Can you please share your thoughts on Vietnam’s hosting of the 37th meeting of the Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF) Board of Governors in Da Nang?

ASEM was established in 1996 and a year later the Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF) was founded, which works to increase dialogue and mutual understanding between the people of the two continents. Therefore, this Board of Governors (BoG) meeting has a significant meaning to our country, ASEF, and cooperation in ASEM.

For Vietnam, this is our second time hosting the ASEF Board of Governors meeting since the success of the ASEM Summit in 2004, 13 years ago. This is a concrete contribution to joint cooperation and shows that Vietnam always attaches importance to ASEM and the role of ASEF. Taking place only three weeks after the triumph of the APEC Economic Leaders’ Week 2017 and in the same city of Da Nang – an active and leading economic hub of the country, the meeting is an example of Vietnam’s policy of diversification and multi-lateralisation. The event underscores the country’s approach to multilateral external relations. Choosing Vietnam as the host country has once again proven the trust of the governors from 53 ASEM members and the international friends of Vietnam and our people.

Ambassador Nguyen Nguyet Nga, Vietnamese Governor at the Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF). (Photo: Nguyen Hong)

For ASEM, this 37th BoG Meeting takes place as ASEM is entering its third decade and on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of ASEF. During the 11th ASEM Summit in Mongolia, July 2016, ASEM leaders agreed on promoting Asia-Europe cooperation in the new era. Therefore, ASEF not only discussed the usual issues but also carried out in-depth discussions on building a new vision for ASEM and ASEF, as an initiative of Vietnam.

It can be said that the BoG Meeting was carried out at a time when the regional and global landscape, as well as multilateral cooperation, are facing intertwined opportunities and challenges. The complex developments and shifts in the digital era, alongside increasing globalization, require the international community, including Asia and Europe, to further collaborate in maintaining momentum in multilateral cooperation to better respond to new challenges. At the meeting, the governors actively discussed measures to increase the practicality of ASEM’s activities and ASEF’s projects to better contribute to multilateral accomplishments.

Madam Ambassador, along with the challenges you have mentioned, what are the new cooperation opportunities as ASEM enters its third decade?

Speaking of the challenges, the world has gone through complex and rapid developments, even shifts in the balance of power, over the last year. Besides security and development issues, the trends of populism, protectionism and nationalist tendencies are on the rise while economic linkages in many areas have slowed down. Many countries, especially great powers, are continuing to make significant adjustments in both domestic and foreign policy.

However, the aforementioned challenges and developments are the driving force to promote international cooperation. Therefore, multilateral cooperation faces new prospects due to historic agreements such as the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development of the United Nations and the Paris Agreement on climate change. Moreover, the trends of cooperation and multilateral linkage along with reform, innovation and multilateral mechanisms are being further promoted. As a result, the ASEM forum is also at a critical transition point.

Ambassador Nguyen Nguyet Nga and delegates attending the ASEF on December 30. (Photo: Nguyen Hong)

These opportunities and challenges are creating new momentum and new demands for the Asia-Europe partnership. ASEM needs to play a pioneering role in international cooperation since it is an extensive cooperation mechanism between two leading centers of development and innovation, representing 58% of the world's population, contributing more than 50% of GDP and more than 60% of total trade. When multilateral cooperation faces such changes, ASEM needs to play a leadership role. Our multilateral diplomacy strategy is to work with our Asia-Europe friends, turning the challenges into opportunities for cooperation and development. This meeting has clearly demonstrated that goal.

In your opinion, how important is ASEF in enhancing the practicality and effectiveness of ASEM cooperation as well as elevating the position of the forum?

ASEM is an informal dialogue forum. ASEF is the only ASEM mechanism with personnel and financial resources contributed by its members, which was established to promote mutual understanding and exchange of people between Asia and Europe. I was fortunate to witness ASEF’s founding in February 1997 in Singapore, on the occasion of the First ASEM Foreign Ministers Meeting. To date, being involved in the activities of the governors, I can clearly see the role as well as the adaptability and reform of ASEF to better meet the needs of cooperation and exchange between the two continents.

In past years, ASEF has shown its pioneering role in implementing ASEM's goals, effectively contributing to the promotion of mutual understanding, policy coordination, and hosting exchanges among businesses, researchers and the media. This is a unique characteristic of ASEM and has become the focus of ASEF. Up until today, after three sessions of exchange of people, culture, and knowledge, ASEF has expanded into six new pillars of cooperation: culture, education, sustainable development, economy, governance and public health. These are very practical issues facing people today.

However, in the near future, ASEF should play a more active role in identifying new directions for ASEM in the digital age. It is necessary to make the ASEM exchanges more practical, not only in politics - security but also on economic issues that people are interested in. It is necessary to attach importance to economic cooperation and especially the participation and contribution of the business community. It is also essential for ASEF to promote ASEM coordination with regional and global mechanisms such as the United Nations, WTO, APEC, and ASEAN. Through this, Asia-Europe cooperation and ASEF can prove their dynamism and innovation, and contribute to improving the effectiveness of cooperation as well as the role of ASEM.

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