ASEM 6

The leaders of 38 Asian and European countries and the President of the European Commission concluded their two-day ASEM 6 Summit in Helsinki on 11 September 2006.

In its closing stages, the summit approved guidelines for the future of the cooperation process between the two continents and adopted a decision on the admission of six new partners. Bulgaria and Romania from Europe and India, Mongolia, Pakistan and the ASEAN Secretariat on the Asian side will join the ASEM process. The Heads of State or Government also adopted two declarations.

The aim of the Declaration on Climate Change is to add momentum to efforts to reach agreement in international climate negotiations. “This sends a strong signal to the world that ASEM intends to tackle the threat that climate change poses to sustainable development”, said Prime Minister Vanhanen.

The other declaration, the Helsinki Declaration on the Future of ASEM, contains guidelines and practical recommendations for developing cooperation in the future. 

The ASEM 6 Summit, attended by almost 1,500 delegates, was the largest ever meeting at the level of Heads of State or Government hosted by Finland. The next ASEM Summit, ASEM 7, will be held in Beijing, China, in October 2008.

Press release
Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen at the closing ceremony
Chairman's Statement of the Sixth Asia-Europe Meeting Helsinki
ASEM 6 Declaration on Climate Change Helsinki
Helsinki Declaration on the Future of ASEM
Calendar of ASEM events 2006-2008
List of ASEM Initiatives
Photos
Webcasts
ASEM 6: Overview and report