Vietnam supports ASEAN’s relations with new, potential partners: MoIT leader
On April 22, at the headquarters of the Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT), the ministry’s leader Nguyen Hong Dien met with Secretary-General of ASEAN (the Association of Southeast Asian Nations), Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, who is visiting Vietnam at the Vietnamese Government’s invitation to attend the ASEAN Future Forum.
Present at the meeting were representatives from Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Industry and Trade.
Overview of the meeting between Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien and Secretary-General of ASEAN Dr. Kao Kim Hourn
At the meeting, the ASEAN Secretary-General talked about ASEAN's priority areas in the economic pillar, aiming to diversify trade and enhance ASEAN's supply chain resilience, including trade, investment, tourism and connectivity.
Dr. Kao Kim Hourn stated that with the goal of making ASEAN an attractive investment destination globally, ASEAN is focusing on upgrading the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement (ATIGA) and free trade agreements (FTAs) between ASEAN and its partners, as well as initiatives on green economy, digital economy, circular economy, and blue economy.
Minister Nguyen Hong Dien said ASEAN countries must strengthen solidarity to overcome challenges to achieve positive results in the coming time
He highly appreciated Vietnam's contribution to the realization of the ASEAN Economic Community’s goals, and the Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade’s role as the coordinating agency for the Vietnam-based ASEAN Economic Community’s operations. The ASEAN Secretary-General expressed hope that Vietnam would closely coordinate with other ASEAN countries in completing the priority economic initiatives proposed by Laos - the ASEAN Chair 2024.
Minister Dien highly appreciated the ASEAN Secretariat’s support for and close coordination with Vietnam in efforts related to ASEAN economic integration, as well as the role of the ASEAN Secretary-General in assisting Indonesia and Laos during their ASEAN Chairmanship year.
Minister Dien stated that Vietnam welcomes the 14 priority initiatives proposed by Laos and is committed to closely coordinating with Laos and other ASEAN countries to fulfill these initiatives, contributing to further enhancing ASEAN cooperation, and creating new momentum for ASEAN’s future development in the decades to come.
Secretary-General of ASEAN Kao Kim Hourn highly appreciates Vietnam’s participation and the role of the MoIT in implementing the goals of the ASEAN Economic Community
During the working session, Minister Dien said that despite unpredictable global developments, the Vietnamese economy grew by 5.66 percent in the first quarter of 2024, and the total import-export value exceeded US$178 billion, a year-on-year increase of 15.5 percent.
However, Minister Dien believes that the Vietnamese economy, as well as ASEAN as a whole, will still face challenges in the coming time, including increasing protectionism. He emphasized that ASEAN countries need to strengthen unity to overcome these challenges and achieve positive and mutually beneficial outcomes in the future.
Minister Dien also acknowledged the ASEAN Secretary-General’s proposals regarding trade in services, investment, tourism, and connectivity in ASEAN economic cooperation. He stated that these proposals will be reported to relevant ministries and agencies to promote discussions within ASEAN.
Secretary-General of ASEAN Kao Kim Hourn highly appreciates Vietnam’s participation and the role of the MoIT in implementing the goals of the ASEAN Economic Community
Minister Dien shared that Vietnam has actively participated in and closely coordinated with ASEAN members in external economic cooperation, particularly in upgrading ASEAN+ FTAs (including the RCEP agreement). This contributes to supporting post-pandemic recovery for sustainable prosperity in the ASEAN region.
Minister Nguyen Hong Dien affirmed that Vietnam will continue to coordinate closely with other ASEAN countries as well as the ASEAN Secretariat to further promote relations with the bloc’s member countries. He also said Vietnam supports ASEAN to boost relationships with potential partners in the future.
Secretary-General of ASEAN highly appreciated Minister Nguyen Hong Dien's opinions and Vietnam’s commitments in positive and responsible contributions to promoting ASEAN economic integration in the coming time. He also agreed to assign technical levels to keep coordinating closely to fulfill the goals of the ASEAN Economic Community.
To conclude the meeting, Mịnister Nguyen Hong Dien expressed his joy as more and more officials from Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam are working actively at the ASEAN Secretariat under the leadership of the Secretary General.
