Delegation of the Communist Party of Vietnam attends the 4th Asia-Europe Political Forum

From June 10-12, the 4th Asia-Europe Political Forum and the 37th Meeting of the Standing Committee of the International Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP) took place in Prague, the Czech Republic. The delegation of our Party, led by Mr. Ngo Le Van - Deputy Head of the Central External Relations Commission, attended the events and had sideline activities.

Delegations attending the 4th Asia-Europe Political Forum.

The Asia-Europe Political Forum was established in 2017 as a cooperation mechanism between ICAPP member parties and major political party groups of the European Parliament to discuss issues of mutual concern and promote cooperation between the two continents.

The 4th Asia-Europe Political Forum, hosted by the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) Group in the European Parliament, attracted the participation of 28 parties and party groups from 21 Asian and European countries, focusing on the topics of “Coronavirus - Lessons from Europe and Asia”, “Asian and European Perspectives on Globalization” and “The Future of EU-Asia Relations”.

Representatives of political parties affirmed the need to further strengthen the partnership between Asia and Europe; emphasized the determination to implement the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, towards a sustainable, inclusive recovery, global cooperation; reduce trade barriers, promote fair competition, support a multilateral, inclusive trading system, and ensure people's lives.

The Forum adopted the Prague Declaration, which affirmed the importance of strengthening the Asia-Europe partnership through the important role of party-to-party cooperation towards a sustainable and comprehensive partnership.

Within the framework of AEPF-4, the ICAPP Standing Committee held its 37th meeting, focusing on discussing the direction of ICAPP's activities in the coming time. The parties agreed to continue promoting cooperation between political parties in the region as well as cooperation with political parties in other regions.

On the sidelines of the meetings, Deputy Head of the Central External Relations Commission Ngo Le Van had discussions and worked with Mr. Jan Zahradil - Co-Chairman of AEPF, Vice Chairman of the International Trade Committee, Member of the European Parliament; ICAPP leaders; representatives of many ruling and political parties and parties with important roles in Asia and Europe; discussed and agreed on measures to promote relations between the Communist Party of Vietnam and political parties around the world. Mr. Ngo Le Van affirmed that as a member of the Standing Committee of ICAPP, the Communist Party of Vietnam will continue to actively contribute to the activities and priority directions of ICAPP.

Deputy Head of the Central External Relations Commission Ngo Le Van spoke and discussed at the Forum.

At the meeting with Mr. Jiří Kozák - Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic, the two sides discussed directions and measures to promote bilateral relations in the fields of politics, economic, trade and investment cooperation. The Czech Deputy Foreign Minister affirmed that the Czech Republic attaches great importance to promoting relations with Vietnam, and at the same time suggested that the two sides closely coordinate to promote relations between ASEAN and the EU, especially in the context that the Czech Republic will assume the role of EU President in July 2022. The Czech Deputy Foreign Minister highly appreciated the role of the Vietnamese community in the Czech Republic in the economic and political life of the Czech Republic as well as in its role as a bridge for the development of relations between Vietnam and the Czech Republic.