Co-hosted by the Foreign Ministry; the Ministry of Labour,Invalids and Social Affairs; the Ministry of Planning and Investment; and theprovincial People’s Committee, the event aims to realise Vietnam’s initiativesadopted at the 12th ASEM Summit in Brussels in October last year.
Speaking at the event, Deputy Minister of Labour, Invalidsand Social Affairs Doan Mau Diep affirmed that the Vietnamese Government hascarried out a sustainable development strategy through ensuring economic growthin tandem with social progress and justice, as well as strengthening the socialwelfare system for all citizens.
Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Quoc Cuong said countries arefacing challenges regarding gaps in wealth, income and employment, genderinequality, terrorism, transnational crimes, cyber security and climate change.
He suggested that ASEM’s initiatives should bepeople-centred; bring practical benefits to them; uphold creativity of all walksof life, especially youths, women and girls; as well as improve economicempowerment for women.
The official spoke highly of strategic partnerships onsustainable development, ASEM’s effective projects on financial aid andtechnological transfer in Vietnam.
As one of the founding members of ASEM, Vietnam always giveshigh priorities to contributing to common efforts to enhance ASEM cooperation,he said.
The two-day event focuses its discussion on inclusivesocio-economic development in the 21st century, the role andinvolvement of parties concerned, as part of preparations for the 14th ASEM Foreign Ministers’ Meeting scheduled for December in Spain.-VNA