ID :
180755
Mon, 05/09/2011 - 06:12
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/180755
The shortlink copeid
Asem Summit Helps Further Boost Asia Europe Ties
SINGAPORE (Bernama) - The eighth ASEM summit held in Brussels on October 4-5 last year helped to further boost Asia-Europe ties, with leaders from both regions discussing key global challenges and ways of strengthening political, economic and cultural ties.
Russia, Australia and New Zealand were admitted as ASEM partners for the first time.
However, according to observers and analysts ASEM is not just about summits and Asia-Europe relations are not just about meetings. Asia and Europe interact with each other in myriad ways: they are connected by history, culture, business and share the challenge of living together in a rapidly changing and globalised world.
They said intensified strategic cooperation between Asia and Europe will be key in tackling the challenge of sustainable development, combating climate change, ensuring peace and stability and meeting the Millennium Development Goals.
Easing the impact of the global economic slowdown and ensuring global growth also require Asia-Europe cooperation and consultation.
As European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said at the ASEM summit in Beijing in 2008, “we either swim together or sink together”.
That message remains relevant three years on. In the coming years, Asia and Europe will have to deal with all kinds of non-traditional security threats, such as pandemics, energy security, environmental protection, food security, terrorism, piracy at sea or organized crime, as well as strengthening preventive diplomacy.
Partners will continue to work together on promoting inclusive
socio-economic development, and on strengthening cultural understanding and inter-faith dialogue.
Asia and Europe will also need to consider ways of capitalising on ASEM’s added-value in an era of G20.
The Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) is a forum for dialogue between Europe and Asia.
Since its establishment in 1996 ASEM has been the main multilateral channel for communication between Asia and Europe, strengthening interaction and mutual understanding.
ASEM involves virtually the whole of Asia and Europe, with 48 countries or regional bodies participating. ASEM's overall direction is set by ASEM heads of state or government meeting at Summits held every two years - alternating between European and Asian locations.
Between Summits many inter-governmental ASEM meetings maintain the momentum of Asia-Europe dialogue on all political, economic, social and cultural issues of mutual interest to the partners.
The 48 ASEM partners are: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Cambodia, China, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Laos, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Mongolia, Myanmar, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Pakistan, the Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Romania, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden,
Thailand, United Kingdom, Vietnam, the ASEAN Secretariat and the European Commission.
ASEM also brings together non-governmental stakeholders, such as lawmakers, business leaders and civil society representatives. These stakeholders meet at the Asia-Europe Parliamentary Partnership, Asia-Europe Business Forum, and Asia Europe People’s Forum, held every two years alongside ASEM Summits.
ASEM also links the peoples of Europe and Asia through the Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF), funded by ASEM partners and based in Singapore.
ASEF promotes understanding and collaboration between the peoples of Asia and Europe through cultural, intellectual and people-to-people exchanges.
Russia, Australia and New Zealand were admitted as ASEM partners for the first time.
However, according to observers and analysts ASEM is not just about summits and Asia-Europe relations are not just about meetings. Asia and Europe interact with each other in myriad ways: they are connected by history, culture, business and share the challenge of living together in a rapidly changing and globalised world.
They said intensified strategic cooperation between Asia and Europe will be key in tackling the challenge of sustainable development, combating climate change, ensuring peace and stability and meeting the Millennium Development Goals.
Easing the impact of the global economic slowdown and ensuring global growth also require Asia-Europe cooperation and consultation.
As European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said at the ASEM summit in Beijing in 2008, “we either swim together or sink together”.
That message remains relevant three years on. In the coming years, Asia and Europe will have to deal with all kinds of non-traditional security threats, such as pandemics, energy security, environmental protection, food security, terrorism, piracy at sea or organized crime, as well as strengthening preventive diplomacy.
Partners will continue to work together on promoting inclusive
socio-economic development, and on strengthening cultural understanding and inter-faith dialogue.
Asia and Europe will also need to consider ways of capitalising on ASEM’s added-value in an era of G20.
The Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) is a forum for dialogue between Europe and Asia.
Since its establishment in 1996 ASEM has been the main multilateral channel for communication between Asia and Europe, strengthening interaction and mutual understanding.
ASEM involves virtually the whole of Asia and Europe, with 48 countries or regional bodies participating. ASEM's overall direction is set by ASEM heads of state or government meeting at Summits held every two years - alternating between European and Asian locations.
Between Summits many inter-governmental ASEM meetings maintain the momentum of Asia-Europe dialogue on all political, economic, social and cultural issues of mutual interest to the partners.
The 48 ASEM partners are: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Cambodia, China, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Laos, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Mongolia, Myanmar, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Pakistan, the Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Romania, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden,
Thailand, United Kingdom, Vietnam, the ASEAN Secretariat and the European Commission.
ASEM also brings together non-governmental stakeholders, such as lawmakers, business leaders and civil society representatives. These stakeholders meet at the Asia-Europe Parliamentary Partnership, Asia-Europe Business Forum, and Asia Europe People’s Forum, held every two years alongside ASEM Summits.
ASEM also links the peoples of Europe and Asia through the Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF), funded by ASEM partners and based in Singapore.
ASEF promotes understanding and collaboration between the peoples of Asia and Europe through cultural, intellectual and people-to-people exchanges.
