First ASEM ICT Ministerial Meeting opens in Vietnam

A ministerial meeting on information and communication technology (ICT) among ASEM members opened here Thursday, discussing measures to strengthen cooperation on ICT development and application, and increase the ability of enterprises in the field.

The 1st ASEM (Asia-Europe Meeting) ICT Ministerial Meeting is a good chance for delegates to share experiences on improving ICT management environment and development policies, intensify cooperation on increasing ability of communities and businesses on ICT application, Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Khiem said at the two-day meeting's opening ceremony.

"Leaders of ASEM members have expressed their desire and encouraged the implementation and expansion of specific cooperative programs in ICT, particularly in promoting its applications in every aspect of the society, such as in education, healthcare, and improving the living standard of rural people," he said.

The meeting with the theme "Promoting ICT applications in human resource development and capacity building" is focusing on promoting ICT applications in the community, especially in rural and remote areas, for the society's essential needs such as health and education.

It is also discussing possibilities of increasing the role and contributions of businesses, and research and educational establishments. During the meeting, ministers are also to hold dialogues with ICT businesses to make the cooperation deeper and more specific.

The meeting is conducted under initiatives on promoting the ICT cooperation endorsed by ASEM members at the 5th ASEM Summit held in Hanoi in 2004.

ASEM is an informal process of dialogue and cooperation bringing together 25 EU member states and the European Commission with 13 Asian countries, namely, China, Brunei, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar. The ASEM dialogue addresses political, economic and cultural issues, with the objective of strengthening the relationship between the two continents.

Source: Xinhua