ASEM boosts customs cooperation in response to new challenges
VGP - The 13th ASEM Customs Directors-General/Commissioners’ Meeting (ASEM 13) was kicked off on October 9 in Ha Long city, Quang Ninh province under the chair of the General Department of Viet Nam Customs (GDVC)
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Photo: VGP |
This was a good chance for ASEM customs agencies to exchange views; deal with challenges; and promote free trade, facilitate investment and services especially in the context of the digital economy.
Delegates debated the four priorities of customs cooperation in the 2018-2019 period, which were passed at the ASEM 12 in Germany, in 2017 namely trade facilitation and supply chain security, fight against counterfeit goods and enforcement of intellectual property rights, social and environmental protection, and community connectivity and ASEM vision.
Addressing the opening ceremony, Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Finance Do Hoang Anh Tuan said that the meeting offers a chance for the delegates to seek ways to revamp customs management, meeting requirements of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (Industry 4.0), while boosting cooperation in human resource development and sustainable development of the sector.
According to Deputy Minister Tuan, the world economy and global trade witnessed emerging challenges in the previous year.
He suggested five factors for sustainable growth including perfecting the legal system and agreements for countries and economic blocs; appropriate customs management in line with the Industry 4.0; close cooperation in development of professional customs integrity; and settlement of new challenges.
Head of the GDVC Nguyen Van Can said that hosting the meeting demonstrates the GDVC’s efforts in contributing to orienting ASEM customs cooperation amidst the Fourth Industrial Revolution and challenges facing the world like trade fraud, terrorism and smuggling, among others.
On the sidelines of ASEM 13, Deputy Financial Minister Tuan met with World Customs Organization Secretary General Kunio Mikuriya./.
By Kim Loan
