ASEM 6

The final, special closed session on the occasion of ASEM's tenth anniversary looked ahead to the future of the process. 

The ASEM Virtual Secretariat was inaugurated as a means to facilitate coordination and information-sharing among partners. 

Prime Minister Vanhanen used the occasion to underline the importance of contacts with the stakeholders of the process. He stated that it is important that the Asia-Europe meeting further strengthens the ties with and between its stakeholders from both regions, including the business community, parliamentarians, youth, academia, the media, NGOs, other actors of civil society. He acknowledged the input Leaders had received from the various groups, including the 6th Asia-Europe People's Forum and the Asia-Europe Young Decision-Makers Conference.

Leaders agreed that while continuing the process under the framework of three pillars, ASEM should start its second decade by focussing on key policy areas such as strengthening multilateralism and addressing global threats of common concern; globalisation, competitiveness and structural changes in the global economy; health; science and technology including Information and Communication Technology (ICT); sustainable development with special focus on the MDGs, climate change, environment, and energy; and intercultural and Interfaith Dialogue.

The final session was furthermore highlighted by an important decision on ASEM enlargement. Prime Minister Vanhanen stated that ASEM is an open, evolutionary, and inclusive process, and the partners need to keep on working to reinforce their partnership. Leaders invited the two acceding EU Member States Bulgaria and Romania, as well as India, Mongolia, Pakistan and the ASEAN Secretariat on the Asian side, to participate in the ASEM process. An expanded partnership will provide greater dynamism, enhance dialogue and cooperation, and make the Asia-Europe partnership better equipped to tackle present and future global challenges. Leaders looked forward to the formal celebration of the admission of the new partners at the 2008 ASEM Summit.

At the end of the session Leaders adopted the Helsinki Declaration on the Future of ASEM and its Annex on Working Methods and Institutional Mechanisms, as well as the ASEM Declaration on Climate Change.

Finally, Leaders accepted with gratitude the offer of China to host ASEM7 and looked forward to meeting again in 2008.