HANOI - The Fourth Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) Labor and Employment Ministers' Conference (ASEM LEMC 4) serves as an opportunity to promote cooperation in labor and employment among its member countries for the purposes of sustainable economic recovery and growth, said Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung.

Dung made the remarks at the opening of the ASEM LEMC4 held in Vietnam's capital Hanoi on Thursday.

Vietnam always attaches great importance to the development of diplomatic, economic, trading and investment ties with ASEM members, and in particular, cooperation in labor, employment and social protection, Dung affirmed.

Although ASEM have gained fruitful achievements in the past few years, they are not commensurate with the potential of ASEM, which engages 60 percent of the world population and 50 percent of global GDP, Dung said, adding that it needs to further enhance effective cooperation and sharing of experience in developing policies on labor and employment issues.

During the conference themed "Social protection and employment - a key to inclusive growth", delegates will discuss recent financial and economic crisis and highlight the importance of employment and social protection for a sustainable and inclusive growth.