| Sustainable Development |
| Asia-Europe
People’s Forum focuses discussion on human security |
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Along with trade and investment issues, human security is also
high on the agenda of the 5th ASEM People's Forum (AEPF), said
Andy Rutherford of the United Kingdom-based One World Action,
a member of the AEPF International Organising Committee.
He granted an interview to the Viet Nam News Agency at
the forum.
Q. What do you think about the theme of this AEPF?
A: We’ve been working very closely with the National
Organising Committee over the last year. There has been, up
until now, a great co-operation. We have been sharing the
principles and ideas we want to discuss. We are now looking
to work out the specifics for organising what will be the
most successful and largest Asia-Europe meeting ever.
The forum focuses on two main areas: trade and investment as
well as global security. Over the last few years, this has
focused on war and the war against terrorism. We strongly
feel that another focus has to be on “human security.”
Q. What are contributions of the AEPF to the ASEM
process?
A: The ASEM process has been focusing on strengthening
and developing trade and investment. That has been a main
topic for official discussions at the ASEM since 1996. The
AEPF has said that trade and investment must always have a
stronger social dimension. We have shared our concern that
our focus on trade and investment has neglected some social
and environmental concerns, for instance the rights of
workers and women. So, we have tried to pull discussions
back to the agreement that governments have already made,
for example at the Social Development Forum of the UN in
Copenhagen. We are calling on the governments of ASEM to
focus on the things they have agreed and ensure the rights
of people.
Many of us have been working for peace and justice all our
lives, some of which has been focused on Viet Nam and its
struggle for independence. Now, we have extended those
activities to similar struggles for peace, justice, equality
and rights all over the world.
We see the hosting of the Asia-Europe People’s Forum as a
great way to strengthen ties and share experiences between
people’s organisations. We need to stress issues related to
the environment, women’s rights, worker’s rights and
people’s expressions. Everyday, we are looking for creative
and innovative ways to increase these rights. We are looking
forward to meeting with Vietnamese people’s organisations
and to their discussions with us.
Q. What do you think about the lawsuit filed by
Vietnamese victims of Agent Orange against the US companies
that had produced the chemical used by US troops during the
war in Viet Nam?
A: We were involved in the World Social Forum 2004 in
Mumbai, India, where one of the most successful workshops
which brought together people from all over the world was
held to discuss this specific topic. We believe that
discussions here will support this cause
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| Posted articles |
| Sustainable Development |
Developing ASEM
cooperation is a common desire of Asia-Europe
European Union members and the
European Commission attach importance to the
process of Asia-Europe cooperation, Vietnamese
Ambassador to Belgium, Luxembourg and the EU Phan
Thuy Thanh told Vietnam News Agency correspondent
before leaving for the fifth ASEM Summit in Viet
Nam on Oct. 8 & 9. |
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Asem Youth Forum on
Sustainable Development
From 28th June to 2nd July 2004,
the “ASEM Youth Forum on Sustainable Development:
Strengthening Youth Cooperation between Asia and
Europe” was held in Ha Noi, Viet Nam. The forum
was organized by Viet Nam’s Youth National
Committee and the Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF).
That was the third event organized in Viet Nam
among activities towards ASEM 5 Summit Meeting,
which will be held in Ha Noi in October 2004 and
the first activity co-hosted by ASEF and Viet Nam
on the occasion of the Summit. |
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| Economic integration |
Viet Nam hosts ASEAN
Trade Fair 2004 to promote cooperation
This year's ASEAN Trade Fair is
introducing regional economic achievements to a
global audience while demonstrating the
determination of member countries to strengthen
their cooperation and to establish an integrated
economic environment, said Deputy Prime Minister Vu
Khoan on Tuesday at the ASEAN Trade Fair 2004.. |
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VIETNAM - An Active
Member of ASEM
In pursuit of a foreign policy of
openness, multilateralization and diversification
of foreign relations, Vietnam has been actively
integrating itself into the region and the world.
Having become a member of the Association of
Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in July 1995 and
being aware of the potential for cooperation in
investment, trade, science and technology, and
human resources development between Asia and
Europe, Vietnam has made contribution to giving
birth to Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) and was one of
the 26 founding partners of the process at the
inaugural Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM 1) held in
Bangkok, Thailand in March 1996. |
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