With the desire to give further impetus to the Asia - Europe parliamentary partnership (ASEP) by steadily building ASEP into a regular meeting within the overall Asia - Europe framework, the National Assembly of Vietnam, at the 24th General Assembly of the Asean Inter-Parliamentary Organization (AIPO), September 2003 in Indonesia, announced its initiative to host the Third Asia - Europe Parliamentary Partership Meeting. This forum will focalize the views of parliamentarians from the two continents on issues of mutual concern to be transmitted to the Fifth ASEM Summit before it is held in Hanoi, October 2004. The Initiative of Vietnam received unanimous endorsement from AIPO member countries and support from the representatives of the European Parliament (EP) at the General Assembly.

In this spirit, on behalf of the National Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, I am very honoured to extend an invitation to Your Excellency to lead a parliamentary delegation to participate in the Third ASEP Meeting which is to be held in the city of Hue, Vietnam from 25 - 27 March 2004.

This Meeting will highlight the views of parliamentarians towards "further revitalizing and substantiating the Asia - Europe Partnership" in consonance with the Fifth ASEM Summit's spirit. At the same time, the Third ASEP Meeting provides a forum for dialogues between Asia's and Europe's parliamentarians on the three main pillars of the Asia - Europe partnership, namely, economic and cultural cooperation as well as political and security issues in the context of recent regional and international developments. In this regard, the three main topics for this Meeting are as follows: "Asia - Europe partnership for a farier and more equal global trade"; "Cultural identity and diversity in the context of the Asia - Europe partnership" and "Current international security situation and challenges to international law".

We are looking forward to the high-level participation in the Third ASEP Meeting of ASEM member parliaments, of the European Parliament, and other related regional organizations. For its part, the National Assembly of Vietnam will do its utmost to ensure the success of the Meeting in continuation of the fruitful outcome of the Second ASEP Meeting held in the Philippines in 2002.

It is my firm belief that the Third ASEP Meeting will provide a great opportunity for parliamentarians of our two continents to actively engage in the shaping and implementation of ASEM's initiatives. The attendence and active participation of Your Excellency and your Delegation will undoubtedly make an important contribution to the success of the Meeting, and thus to the promotion of better mutual understanding for our shared interests in peace and cooperation for development.

We are looking forward to welcoming Your Excellency and your delegation in Vietnam.

Please, accept, Excellency, my best wishes and the assurances of my highest consideration.

Nguyen Van An
President of the National Assembly
Socialist Republic of Vietnam