National Assembly Vice Chairman Uông Chu Lưu (first left) at the meeting. — VNA/VNS Photo Duy Trinh

Viet Nam News -HÀ NỘI — National Assembly (NA) Vice Chairman Uông Chu Lưu proposed numerous measures to foster co-operation between Asia and Europe at the 9th Asia-Europe Parliamentary Partnership (ASEP-9) Meeting, which ran from April 21-22 in Mongolia.
Lưu, who led the Vietnamese delegation at the event, stressed the importance of ASEP, stating that the connection between the two economic blocs in Europe and Asia will create a new impetus for trade and investment exchanges, as well as other shared issues.
He noted that Việt Nam is one of the leading ASEAN nations in concluding negotiations for free trade agreements (FTA) with key international economic and political hubs, such as the European Union (EU) and the Asian-European Economic Union.
Touching upon security and political issues, the Vietnamese delegation head reiterated the settlement of disputes via peaceful measures in line with the United Nations’ chapters and international law.
He called for respecting the freedom of navigation and overflight at sea and strictly adhering to the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) as well as the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) towards completing negotiations on a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).
ASEP-9 is one of two key events hosted by Mongolia this year, along with the 11th Asia-Europe Summit Meeting (ASEM-11), which aims to mark the 20th founding anniversary of ASEM.
This year’s event saw the participation of 200 delegates from 32 ASEP member nations and international organisations.
With the theme “The role of ASEP to ASEM”, the meeting focused its discussions on the “connectivity and efficiency of multi-lateral mechanisms” and a “partnership towards the future”.
During the event, the Vietnamese National Assembly (NA) Vice Chairman was received by the Mongolian NA Chairman, at which time the two sides discussed measures to strengthen relations between the two NAs and nations.
Lưu also had bilateral meetings with delegations from Italy, Russia, Australia, Finland, Laos, Cambodia and Singapore. --VNS