Asia-Europe partnership on the table in Da Nang

The Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF)’s 37th Board of Governors (BoG) and related meetings have opened at Furama Resort Da Nang, Vietnam – The International Convention Palace. This is the second time Vietnam has hosted the event, with the first coming within the framework of the fifth Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) held in Hanoi in 2004.

Deputy Foreign Minister of Vietnam, Bui Thanh Son and Nguyen Nguyet Nga, ASEF Governor for Vietnam take part in the event. Key speakers include Kamal Malhotra, Resident Coordinator of the United Nations in Vietnam, Johnathan SL Ooi, vice director-general, PricewaterhouseCoopers Vietnam, Steven Everts, ASEF Governor for the EU, Alternate ASEM SOM Leader for the EU, ambassador Kyaw Zeya, ASEM SOM Leader for Myanmar, ambassador Karsten Warnecke, ASEF Executive Director, and Eva Biaudet, Chair of ASEF Board of Governors.

According to The Press & Information Department under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the event features 150 delegates, aiming to build a vision for a comprehensive Asia-Europe partnership.

The 37th BoG Meeting, which is held three times every two years to evaluate ASEF’s strategy and policies in view of ASEM’s principles and priorities, opened its plenary sessions this morning, November 30th and will close on December 1st.

According to the department, discussions will focus on major trends in the global political and economic landscape and changes in Asia and Europe as well as ASEM’s role in an evolving world.

Delegates will also talk about concerns for the Asia – Europe partnership, ASEM in its 3rd decade and beyond, and enhancing ASEF’s relevance.

Earlier, the ASEF Finance and Audit Committee and the ASEF Executive Committee Meetings will take place in the city on November 28-29.