(VOVWORLD) - The 12th Asia-Europe Meeting will open in Brussels on Thursday drawing state leaders of 51 countries. Themed “Asia and Europe - Global Partners for Global Challenges”, the meeting will focus on opportunities and challenges that the two continents are facing in a rapidly changing world. The leaders will map out major orientations for Asia-Europe dialogues, cooperation, and connection to cope with common challenges.
ASEM – 22 years of growth
Since it was founded in 1996, the ASEM has become a leading dialogue and cooperation mechanism in promoting comprehensive cooperation and mutual understanding between the two continents.
The ASEM has a Summit, a Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, 10 Specialized Ministers’ Meetings, and a Senior Officials’ Meeting. Its ultimate goal is to create a new comprehensive partnership between Asia and Europe for faster growth, better mutual understanding, and constructive dialogue.
The rapid growth of ASEM membership from 26 to 53 including member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the European Union, the ASEAN Secretariat, and the European Commission, demonstrates ASEM’s cooperation potential and its expanding role. ASEM has contributed to global efforts in restoring the global economy, achieving balanced, sustainable growth, reaching MDGs, realizing the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development, and addressing global challenges.
More dynamic, closer connectivity for new challenges
In the face of rapid and complex changes around the world, ASEM leaders need to prove their effective cooperation. A number of issues will be discussed at the meeting including the nuclear programs of North Korea and Iran and prospects for Asia-Europe economic cooperation in the context of increasing trade protectionism. The effects of the US-China trade war and protecting the World Trade Organization will also be high on the agenda of the meeting.
The ASEM promotes connectivity, inclusive growth, and multilateral cooperation in addressing global issues. The European Commission has recently introduced a new strategy on connectivity between Europe and Asia to promote cooperation in transportation, energy, and the digital economy.