Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh (L) meets with Catherine Ashton, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs & Security Policy

The successfully-closed 20th ASEAN-EU Ministerial Meeting (AEMM-20) in Brussels on July 24 has confirmed the active and responsible role of Vietnam as a coordinator of the ASEAN-EU dialogue relations when it co-chaired the event for the first time.

In an interview granted to the Vietnam News Agency correspondents in Belgium, Michael Mann, spokesman for the office of Vice President of the European Commission Catherine Ashton, said Vietnam plays an important role in connecting Asia and Europe.

He described the co-chair by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh at the event as a contribution to fastening ASEAN’s work together with the EU’s, which would help both sides learn from each other.

Meanwhile, Deputy Foreign Minister Pham Quang Vinh has asserted that since becoming the coordinator of the ASEAN-EU relations in July 2012, Vietnam has made positive contributions to the relations.

In preparing for the AEMM-20, Vietnam has actively involved in building up meeting agenda, content and documents, Vinh stressed.

An agreement reached on elevating ASEAN-EU relations to strategic partnership reflected Vietnam’s coordinating role in the relations, the official affirmed.

VNA