AsiaEurope relations recorded significant progress over the last decade

On September 10 and 11, the leaders of the 10 countries of Asean, China, the Japan, the Korea, and 25 members of the European Union (EU), as well as the President of the European Commission will meet at the sixth Summit Asia-Europe (Asem), held in Helsinki. This meeting, which marks the tenth anniversary of the Asem, will provide the opportunity to take stock of the past decade, to assess to what extent the Asem has managed to meet the expectations of its partners and to determine the future direction of the Asia-Europe partnership.

Asia-Europe relations recorded significant progress over the last decade. Trade between the two regions represents more than 43 of the global trade in goods, and the Asem partners together account for about 52 of world GDP. The scope of the political dialogue has expanded to now cover the human rights and the rule of law, global threats and security on a large scale. The intensification of dialogue and cooperation in the cultural field to significantly promote mutual knowledge and understanding between Asia and Europe.

Asem has contributed to find consensus among its members and, through this, to facilitate progress in other international forums. He has also played an important role in the identification of values and common interests between the two regions. And this has stimulated cooperation in East Asia, giving a boost to a future regional integration. Trans-regional level, Asem links economic communities, parliaments, NGOs and other representatives of civil society in Europe and Asia. Foundation Asia-Europe, unique institution of Asem, plays a leading role in the establishment and maintenance of relationships between people. She encouraged exchanges in the fields of culture and education, while serving as an intermediary between Governments and civil societies of the partners of Asem in the two areas.

The tangible results of Asem include numerous collective projects, programs, seminars and initiatives sponsored by different groups of partner countries. Initially focused on the economy, the cooperation is extended to new areas, such as health, the environment and energy, employment, science and technology, including information and communication (technologies ICT) technologies.

To continue to be fully operational, the Asem must cease to provide value added in its fields of activity.

First, it must give special attention to certain priority areas, which must be followed through initiatives and joint programmes. These areas include the strengthening of multilateralism against security threats, the promotion of sustainable and human development, including cooperation in environmental and energy security, the management of globalization, and the strengthening of intercultural and intercivilisationnel dialogue.

Second, Asem must, at the same time to its current activities, pursue complementary actions in other forums, in accordance with the international agenda. For example, its contribution to the fight against international terrorism should be associated with the efforts undertaken in this area by the forum regional Asean and the United Nations.

Third, Asem should continue its efforts for greater transparency and wider significance of the right to property. Contacts between people and exchanges in the intellectual field and education are of vital importance. Additional efforts will however be necessary to raise the public and attract the attention of the media.

The Asem 6 Summit, to be held in Helsinki, is charting a course of dialogue for the next decade, or even beyond. Specifically, it will adopt a Declaration on the principles and the future directions of cooperation as well as a statement on climate change, stressing the commitment closes ASEM to the necessary international consensus. In addition, certain events in parallel meet representatives of the economic community, parliaments and civil society.

The political decision on the further enlargement of Asem is a milestone in the evolution of the process. Asem partners are of the opinion that enlargement would result in an increase in dynamism and diversification of the process to strengthen and expand dialogue and cooperation between Asia and Europe.

Asia and Europe are closely United in their support for multilateralism. Asem offers a framework in which they can pool their efforts to address the burning issues and to advance the establishment of world peace, security and prosperity. Together, Asia and Europe can forge a partnership which is greater than the sum of the two parties the Asem 6 Helsinki Summit will indicate the direction to take.