ASEM 6 Summit on 10 and 11 September 2006
The 6th ASEM Summit (Asia-Europe Meeting, ASEM) at the level of Heads of State or Government took place in Helsinki on 10 and 11 September 2006. The Summit was a historically significant event as it also marked the tenth anniversary of the ASEM cooperation forum. The ASEM 6 Summit was also the largest ever meeting at the level of Heads of State or Government hosted by Finland.
The parties to the ASEM cooperation include the 25 Member States of the European Union, the European Commission, 10 ASEAN countries (Association of Southeast Asian Nations, ASEAN) and China, Japan and South Korea.
The overarching theme of the Summit was "10 Years of ASEM: Global Challenges - Joint Responses", reflecting both the joint objectives and global developments.
The agenda of the ASEM 6 Summit was prepared among the 39 partners. The broad political, economical and socio-cultural themes of the ASEM 6 Summit had been agreed at previous Summits and ministerial meetings.
The priorities of the Helsinki Summit were:
- Support for the multilateral international system
- Addressing security threats (including global health threats such as the avian flu)
- Questions related to energy security and climate change
- Commitment to resume as soon as possible the WTO Doha Development talks suspended in July 2006
- Questions relating to globalisation, competitiveness and structural changes in the global economy
- Intercultural dialogue
The ten years of ASEM cooperation was also one of the meeting’s cross-cutting themes. The Summit submitted proposals for further development of the ASEM cooperation and to adopted a Helsinki declaration on the Future of ASEM.
The Finnish-Japanese joint research report, entitled "ASEM in its Tenth Year: Looking Back, Looking Forward", provided background for the discussion and decisions on the future of the process.
The ASEM 6 Secretariat at the Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs was responsible for preparations relating to the issues on the meeting agenda. The Secretariat also produced the final documents of the Summit. The Secretariat for Finland’s EU Presidency (EUP) saw to the technical arrangements of the Summit.
Further information:
Declarations
- Other document, 11 Sep 2006, 16:25
Chairman's Statement of the Sixth Asia-Europe Meeting Helsinki, 10-11 September 2006 - Other document, 11 Sep 2006, 16:25
ASEM 6 Declaration on Climate Change Helsinki, 10-11 September 2006 - Other document, 11 Sep 2006, 16:28
Helsinki Declaration on the Future of ASEM, 10-11 September 2006
Annexes to the declarations
- Other document, 11 Sep 2006, 16:34
Calendar of ASEM events 2006-2008 - Other document, 11 Sep 2006, 16:39
List of ASEM Initiatives
Press releases and speeches
- Press release, 11 Sep 2006, 17:16
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A decision on the enlargement of ASEM in the Helsinki Summit - Speech, 11 Sep 2006, 16:08
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Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen at the closing ceremony of the ASEM Summit - Speech, 11 Sep 2006, 11:07
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Address by Mr Christoffer Taxell, Chairman of 10th Asia-Europe Business Forum (AEBF) - Speech, 11 Sep 2006, 10:09
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Keynote Speech by His Excellency Mr. Nguyen Tan Dzung, Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam at the Opening Ceremony of the ASEM 6 Summit - Speech, 11 Sep 2006, 10:08
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Address by Mr Paavo Lipponen, Speaker of the Parliament of Finland and ASEP IV President - Speech, 10 Sep 2006, 20:01
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Statement by H.E. Dr. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, President of the Republic of Indonesia, as the ASEAN Coordinator, at the opening ceremony of the Sixth ASEM Summit and “Celebration of Ten Years of ASEM”, Helsinki, 10 September 2006 - Speech, 10 Sep 2006, 14:50
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Remarks by President Roh Moo-hyun of the Republic of Korea at the Opening Ceremony - Speech, 10 Sep 2006, 14:46
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President Barroso’s speech at the opening ceremony on Sunday, 10 September 2006 - Speech, 10 Sep 2006, 14:18
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Opening address by President of the Republic of Finland Tarja Halonen at the Opening Ceremony: "Celebration of Ten Years of ASEM" on 10 September 2006 - Speech, 10 Sep 2006, 14:05
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Address by Prime Minister of Finland, Matti Vanhanen, as Summit Host at the Opening Ceremony of the ASEM 6: "Celebration of Ten Years of ASEM" on 10 September 2006, Helsinki - Press release, 31 Aug 2006, 16:30
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The EU and Asian Heads of State or Government to attend the ASEM Summit in Helsinki
Chairman's Press Remarks
- Other document, 11 Sep 2006, 16:07
Chairman's Press Remarks 5 - Future of ASEM - Other document, 11 Sep 2006, 15:47
Chairman's Press Remarks 4 - Globalisation and competitiveness - Other document, 11 Sep 2006, 14:19
Chairman's Press Remarks 3 - Sustainable energy including environment and energy security - Other document, 11 Sep 2006, 12:27
Chairman's Press Remarks 2 - Dialogue among cultures and civilisations - Other document, 10 Sep 2006, 17:30
Chairman's Press Remarks 1 - Strengthening multilateralism and addressing security threats
Other documents
- Other document, 04 Sep 2006, 15:31
Seeking joint responses to global challenges - Asia and Europe look to the future on ASEM's tenth anniversary - Other document, 21 Aug 2006, 12:54
Prime Minister Vanhanen's letter to the ASEM partners - Other document, 20 Jul 2006, 15:00
ASEM 6 Brochure
