Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung attends and addresses the opening ceremony. Delegates attend the opening ceremony. At the plenary session, the ministers discuss co-operation in coping with the financial and economic crisis. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem chairs the session. Themed “Forging a closer Asia-Europe partnership to address the financial-economic crisis and global challenges”, the 9th ASEM Foreign Minister’s Meeting (FMM 9) that attracted the participation of foreign ministers and heads of delegations from 45 ASEM members successfully wrapped up after a two-day working session. Addressing the opening ceremony, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung clearly stated that the establishment of ASEM in 1996 not only added “a necessary link” to international relations, but more importantly expressed the determination of people in Asia and Europe to build the partnership between the two continents in the interest of members and effectively contribute to the new internal relations. In the context that the international situation has continued to quickly change and the global economic-financial crisis and economic recession have adverse impacts on the socio-economic life of almost countries in the world, the 9th ASEM Foreign Ministers’ Meeting has an even more special significance. During the Meeting, the ministers reviewed five prominent results and reached a consensus on the necessity to strongly promote economic co-operation among ASEM. They said that in a world that has quickly and unexpectedly changed, the further promotion of co-operation and dialogue between Asia and Europe was very necessary and has an important significance for peace, stability, development and prosperity of the two continents and the world. They agreed that ASEM should continue playing an active role and take responsibility in tackling global challenges, particularly the issues of climate change, energy security, maritime security, disease eradication and anti-terrorism. The leaders approved many important and practical initiatives in the fields of climate change, co-operation for development, strengthening co-operation in information technology, urban development and other fields. Also, the ministers agreed that the expansion of ASEM would create a stronger impetus, strengthen co-operation and dialogue and help the Asian-European partnership cope with the current and future global challenges. They applauded that Australia and Russia asked membership into ASEM and assigned senior officials to continue discussing the methods to help these countries to officially become ASEM members at the 8th ASEM Summit to be held in Brussels, Belgium in 2010. The closing ceremony. During the Meeting, the ministers effectively discussed many concerned issues, particularly the theme of the 7th ASEM Summit in Beijing in October 2008 to aim ASEM dialogue towards the ASEM Meeting in Brussels, Belgium in October 2010 and the determination to strengthen and deeply develop the Asian-European partnership within ASEM to cope with global challenges. The ministers recognized that the current global economic-financial recession has adverse effects on economic development, jobs and social attachment, particularly in developing countries. They said that by efforts made internationally and nationally via close co-operation and coordination, the world’s economy will recover in 2010.    The ministers showed their anxiety and called for global solidarity and coordinated actions among the World Health Organization, other international mechanisms and ASEM to prevent the spread of the H1N1 influenza outbreak. The ministers applauded recent activities of countries that were affected or under the thread of being affected and called for new initiatives to effectively and transparently cope with and prevent pandemics. They also recognized severe challenges of the climate change issue as well as the urgency of the enhancement of close co-operation of ASEM on climate change and called for quickly carrying out the Beijing Statement on the sustainable development and Helsinki Statement on climate change. The ministers approved the Chair’s statement of the 9th ASEM Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, affirming that it was the first official one since ASEM expanded its members to 45. The statement includes 31 points and clearly stated the result of the Meeting, agreeing upon the issues of co-operation to address the global financial and economic crisis; joint efforts to cope with global challenges; enhancement of political dialogue and dialogue among cultures and civilizations and the future of ASEM. The success of the 9th ASEM Foreign Minister’s Meeting was an important benchmark for the process of co-operation among ASEM, sending ASEM’s important political message of spirit, responsibility and solidarity, harmonious co-operation in diversity to effectively address the global challenges. + On the sidelines of the Meeting, about 100 meetings were held among the heads of delegations, making an important contribution to strengthening the bilateral co-operation among ASEM members. + Some events were held on the sidelines of the meeting, such as an ASEM Business Dialogue in Ho Chi Minh City; an ASEM Film Festival in Hanoi; a Workshop of Asian-European Journalists; and an exhibition of young photographers that directed to seek the solution of co-operation to restore the truth of the community, prevent the economic recession and prepare for the post-crisis period.             Story by Bich Van - Photos by VNA