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PM Phuc delivers remarks at the 15th Asia-Europe Business Forum (AEBF) at the State Palace of Mongolia in the capital Ulan Bator, July 14, 2016 - Photo: VGP/Quang Hieu
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PM Phuc made the remark at the 15th Asia-Europe Business Forum (AEBF) at the State Palace of Mongolia in the capital Ulan Bator on July 14.
Under the theme “Connectivity for Inclusive Growth,” the forum was among the events in the run up to the 11th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) Summit, slated for July 15 – 16. It also drew some 600 representatives of leading businesses from the two continents.
As the first leader to give a speech at the closing session of AEBF 11, PM Phuc highly valued the forum’s role in enhancing Asia-Europe business partnerships. Especially, as the ASEM Economic Ministers' Meeting was discontinued since 2005, the forum serves as the only channel of discussion among Asian and European leaders and the business communities in the two continents.
The Government leader described businesses as the growth engine of Asian and European economies, stressing their role, especially that of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in job creation.
The Vietnamese PM called on the participating leaders to help SMEs to integrate and take part in global value chains; take the lead in trade and investment cooperation via ASEM dialogues on sustainable growth, green growth, and SMEs; and figure out solutions to poverty due to unfair trade competition, development gaps, climate change, natural disaster, and saltwater intrusion.
He also asked for continued support for partnerships and free trade agreements (FTAs) among countries in Asia and Europe such as the ASEAN Community, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, and EU – ASEAN and India – ASEAN cooperation.
The ASEM member nations are very important partners of Viet Nam during its reforms, development and international integration. Nineteen out of 25 strategic and comprehensive partners of Vietnam are ASEM members, who account for 70% of foreign investment in and foreign trade with Viet Nam. About 80% of international tourists to the country are from ASEM nations, PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc stressed.
At the forum, other speakers appreciated ASEM leaders’ attention to creating an optimal business environment for Asian-European companies’ operations. They underscored the demand for enterprises’ increased role in and contribution to bolstering the two continents; and in connectivity amid the unsteady economic recovery that has latent risks around the world.
The ASEM leaders told entrepreneurs to join hands with their Governments in fostering trade and investment, connecting the two continents’ infrastructure, and applying environmentally friendly production technologies to help with sustainable and inclusive growth./.
By Kim Anh
