(VOVworld)-The third ASEAN-EU Business Summit (ASEAN-EU 2013) has opened in Hanoi as part of the 19th ASEAN Economic Ministers’ Retreat and the 12th ASEAN Economic Ministers and EU Trade Commissioner Consultations.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, EU Trade Commissioner Karel de Gucht, Minister of Industry and Trade Vu Huy Hoang, ASEAN Secretary-General Le Luong Minh, and 700 representatives from leading ASEAN and EU businesses attended the event.

In his speech, Prime Minister Dung described the summit as a good opportunity for the ASEAN and EU business communities to foster cooperation and connectivity and pass on their recommendations to ASEAN and EU management agencies: “The establishment of the ASEAN community, the regional body’s foremost priority, depends on the crucial pillar of the economic community. It will engender favourable conditions for investment capital circulation and trade exchange, creating business operation expansion opportunities and greatly benefiting the more than 600 million ASEAN people. In conjunction with building the economic community, ASEAN is sparing no effort to deepen its integration with regional and global partners. Enhancing cooperation with the EU in the name of sustainable development and prosperity is a major focus.”

The Prime Minister said that Vietnam has always been an active member of the ASEAN in the building of an ASEAN economic community by 2015 for unity, prosperity and cooperation:“As the coordinator of ASEAN-EU economic cooperation, Vietnam always supports propelling ASEAN-EU trade and investment to new heights. The EU and a number of ASEAN member states including Vietnam are accelerating bilateral free trade area agreement negotiations that will serve as firm foundations for future comprehensive ASEAN-EU cooperation. Vietnam welcomes and wants to encourage the business community’s involvement in ASEAN’s and the EU’s combined efforts to strengthen the relationship between the two blocs. The business community’s activities and investment will significantly contribute to successful ASEAN-EU cooperation”

Following the opening session, delegates held discussion on agricultural economy, automobile industry, financial services, information technology, infrastructure, and pharmaceuticals.