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Asia-Europe Summit

  • November 6th, 2012
  • Posted by 7thmin

asem.PNGThe leaders of 49 countries of Asia and Europe have ended a two-day summit, 5-6.11.12, in the Laotian capital Vientiane, declaring for closer cooperative in managing global economic relations.

The Asia Europe Meeting was set up as an ongoing consultation in 1996, based around links between the 27 members of the European Union , and 13 members of the ASEAN-plus-three group – with others including Australia later invited in.

While the talks were informal and not public, a joint statement said there was agreement to do more, in exchanges between the two continents, for “peace, stability and development”.

Facing up to financial crisis and recession in Europe, and handling rapid economic expansion in Asia, were constant themes.

“The Eurozone is on the right track and growth is expected to pick up in 2013 but in an interlinked world where growth is a worldwide process, both regions need to work together to put the world back on a sustainable growth path,” said Herman Van Rompuy, President of the European Council.

gillard-asem.jpgThe Australian Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, took the opportunity to have several bilateral meetings with other heads of government, and gave an address outlining her government’s recent declaration on the “Asian Century”.

Among others she saw the Burmese (Myanmar) President Thein Sein, the Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, President Francois Hollande of France, and President Raja Pervez Ashraf of Pakistan, (whom she asked to investigate a recent case of extreme cruelty towards imported Australian livestock).

The “Asian Century” White paper released by the Australian government last month is a framework for policy initiatives to strengthen working economic and cultural links with the Indian-Pacific region, extending through expanded diplomatic missions, educational initiatives including language teaching, and planning for growth in export industries.

Member countries of ASEM: Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brunei, 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, Norway, Pakistan, the Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia.

See also, EUAustralia Online: “EU likes, supports Burma (Myanmar) thaw”, 21.4.12; “ASsia-Europe meeting to address ‘non-traditional’ security threats”, 30.5.11; “’Not treating China the same way as Cambodia’: EU’s re-think on aid …”, 20.6.10.

Reference

Australian Government, Canberra, “Australia in the Asian Century – White paper”, October 2012.  http://asiancentury.dpmc.gov.au/sites/default/files/white-paper/australia-in-the-asian-century-white-paper.pdf, (6.11.12).

Wikipedia, SF, “Asia-Europe Meeting”.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asia%E2%80%93Europe_Meeting, (6.11.12).

Xinhua, Beijing, “ASEM Summit stresses partnership”, 6.11.12.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2012-11/06/c_131954954.htm, (6.11.12).

Pictures  wikipedia