During the two-day meeting, ministers will discuss measures to enhance cooperation such as implementing sustainable development goals (SDGs), combating climate change, mitigating and managing natural disasters, ensuring food, energy and water resource security, and narrowing the development gap. 

Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh is one of the four delegation heads invited to deliver a speech at the event’s first session entitled “Synergizing peace and sustainable development.”

As one of the founding members of ASEM, Vietnam has actively participated in Asia-Europe cooperation, with the most noteworthy being the country’s hosting of the fifth ASEM Summit in 2004 and other ASEM ministerial meetings on economics, IT, diplomacy, education, and employment.

The ministers are scheduled to adopt a Chair’s Statement, an action program for the next two years and new initiatives, including Vietnam’s plan on the ASEM conference on joint actions in response to climate change to realise Sustainable Development Goals.