The opening ceremony of the 9th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM 9) Summit, Vientiane, Laos, November 5, 2012 – Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Lao President Choumaly Sayasone stressed that ASEM 9 helps to strengthen cooperation and connection between the two continents of the world.  

With the theme “Friends for peace, partners for prosperity”, ASEM 9 focuses on exchanging major measures to boost up cooperation in ASEM, accelerate economic recovery and deal with global challenges, confirmed the Lao President. 

Giving a speech at the Summit, Vietnamese PM Nguyen Tan Dung proposed that ASEM should create a new driving force for economic cooperation through closely combining economic-finance policies and vigorously realizing the Trade Facilitation Action Plan and the Investment Promotion Action Plan.

In the process of cooperation, ASEM needs to pay due attention to development issues and inter-regional programs, narrow the development gap and balance benefits among developed and developing members, he added.  

ASEM members should also further exchange their experience, shake hands in renewing development models, and develop a green economy, especially in agriculture and rural development, PM Dung proposed.

With its potential and advantages, ASEM should continue to support and make contributions to the reform of the International Monetary Fund and other international institutions towards greater efficiency, democracy and equality.

The Vietnamese PM expressed the determination of Viet Nam in stabilizing its macro-economy, curbing inflation, improving investment environment, promoting manufacture, renewing development model, guaranteeing social welfare and contributing to regional and international development efforts.

The same day, the 13th Asia Europe Business Forum opened, focusing on hot issues in economic development and strengthening trade and investment cooperation between the two continents.

By Thuy Dung