The hosting of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) conference on climate change response toward sustainable development next June is a highlight of Can Tho’s people-to-people diplomacy this year, stated a municipal leader.

Scene at the event

Authorities of the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho has directed relevant agencies and sectors to prepare needed conditions for the event in terms of venues, reception, security, and logistics, Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Truong Quang Hoai Nam reported at a meeting with a Foreign Ministry delegation on April 9. The delegation was led by Director of the Directorate of the State Protocol Mai Phuoc Dung.

The sides agreed to coordinate in preparing the event.

Slated for June 19 and 20, the ASEM conference is set to feature four plenary sessions, sidelines exhibitions and local tours for participants, among other activities.

It is expected to be attended by 180 delegates from 53 ASEM member states and international organisations. 

At the 13th ASEM Foreign Ministers’ Meeting held on November 2017 in Myanmar, Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh put forth an initiative on hosting an ASEM conference on joint actions in response to climate change in order to realise the Sustainable Development Goals. The initiative has to date been sponsored by Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands, Italy, Myanmar, Finland, Australia and Vietnam.

The conference is the most important event hosted by Vietnam as part of ASEM 2018.

Vietnam joined the forum in 1996. The country organised the 5th ASEM Summit in 2004, and economic ministers’ meeting (2001), information-technology ministers’ meeting (2006), foreign and education ministers’ meetings (2009) and labour ministers’ meeting (2012).

In 2107, Vietnam successfully carried out the Prime Minister’s initiative at the 11th ASEM Summit in Mongolia in July 2016 by hosting the ASEM conference on innovative education and human resources building for sustainable development in Hue city on March. The country chaired the 37th meeting of the Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF) Board of Governors.- VNA