ASEM 6

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I am honoured to speak to you on this historic occasion as ASEM celebrates its 10th anniversary. 

We are living in an inter-dependent world.  Nowhere is that more apparent than in relations between Asia and Europe.  This compelling reality lies at the very core of ASEM.   

The theme of this Summit – global challenges - joint responses – could not be more appropriate. 

Our agenda, which includes strengthening multilateralism and addressing security threats, globalisation and competitiveness, sustainable development, intercultural and interfaith dialogues, are all inextricably linked to the major concerns of citizens in Europe and Asia today.

As we all recognize, challenges and threats do not respect borders and must be faced together. Tomorrow, September 11, we mark the anniversary of terrible events that ripped into our consciousness. Terrorism is a great threat to the international community and must be fought jointly.

Our joint commitment to promoting peace and security, sustainable development and human rights, as embodied in the United Nations, are values that we share and we must together proclaim our continued resolve to promote and protect them.

The economic integration of the world is advancing at an unprecedented rate, and Europe and Asia play an ever growing part in this.  The process of globalisation brings with it enormous opportunities, significantly boosting productivity and improving the lives of millions. The extraordinary growth of many of our Asian partners must be recognized, first and foremost, for lifting hundreds of millions out of poverty but also for providing a great motor for the global economy.  At the same time, the transformational impact of globalisation on national economies and society poses serious challenges.  The consequences of globalisation need to be managed, and this can be achieved much more effectively through concerted efforts by Asia and Europe. 

To maximise the benefits of globalisation and mitigate its potential adverse impact, there is a need to strengthen the social dimension.  Appropriate economic, education, employment and social policies should be implemented to improve the capacity of firms and workers to adjust, and to promote the interdependent objectives of productivity growth, job creation, decent work and social cohesion. And we must also of course consider how globalisation and demographic change are affecting migratory flows in both our regions. Here too, Europe and Asia have much to learn from each other. 

The bedrock of globalization is open and fair trade.  We could not, therefore, feel more disappointed at the suspension of the Doha negotiations. The Doha agenda is as much about development as it is about trade. We must resume the round without delay. Other trade arrangements between regions and countries must be complementary to the multilateral trading system.

Managing globalization must be done in a sustainable way. We have a duty before future generations to protect and use the resources of our planet in a responsible manner. Our economies depend on ever increasing supplies of energy and we must continue to find ways to secure, conserve and make more efficient our energy use, developing clean energy and greater use of renewable energy sources.

Climate change is happening and our future is in the balance. Here again, borders are meaningless and we must develop a concerted response, mobilizing all our countries to take effective action, both in the context of the Kyoto Protocol and beyond.

Dialogue among cultures and civilisations, in addition to enhancing mutual understanding, contributes positively to mitigating the new challenges posed by globalisation.   Cultural diversity is an important factor driving economic and social progress.  Partners are encouraged to ratify and implement the UNESCO Convention on the Protection and the Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions, adopted in 2005, thanks in no small part to our combined efforts.

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen:

This dialogue between Europe and Asia is also being conducted at the level of civil society.  The Asia-Europe Business and People’s Fora taking place alongside this Summit and the Asia-Europe Parliamentary Partnership are clear illustrations of the vitality of the broader process.  And the many cultural, intellectual and people-to-people exchange programmes organised by the Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF), particularly involving youth,  perform a valuable function by linking together the civil societies of our two regions. 

Indeed, people-to-people contacts, particularly among the young, must be the foundation of a closer relationship between Europe and Asia.

From the outset ASEM has acted as a catalyst, stimulating interaction between business communities, trade unions, NGOs, parliaments and other sectors of civil society in Asia and Europe, and providing them with a framework for discussing topical issues as diverse as human rights and health threats, environment and energy, commerce and intercultural dialogue, and so on.  Over the last ten years, ASEM has thus become a multi-layered and multi-dimensional setting actively used by representatives of all walks of life in Asia and Europe.

As we celebrate ASEM’s 10th anniversary, we have to look forward as well as back.  Certainly, ASEM cannot rest on its laurels. 

ASEM can best demonstrate its abiding relevance by closely following the evolution of the international agenda and by adopting a clear focus on global issues where Asia and Europe have the combined weight to markedly influence policy making in the international area, as well as continuing to fulfil its other essential function which is to cement our relationship.

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Next year, we will celebrate 50 years of European integration. Today, 25 - soon to be 27 - European nations live in peace and prosperity following two catastrophic world wars. From their ashes and consolidated by a deep process of reconciliation between previous enemies, we have overcome the division of Europe and constructed a new Union, living in peace and marked by unprecedented social and economic progress. While we acknowledge that every situation has its own specificities, we feel proud when so many of our partners and friends in Asia consider the European experience as a source of inspiration for their own cooperation and integration efforts.

Over the past decade, ASEM has made a vital contribution to furthering and deepening our relationship, and its continuing capacity to attract other partners is a measure of its vitality and success. 

With high hopes for the future, we look forward to a fruitful Summit which will pave the way to an even stronger Asia-Europe partnership.

Thank you.