On 5-6 November, 2012 the 9th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM9) took place in Vientiane, Lao PDR. Under the theme “Friends for Peace, Partners for Prosperity“, leaders of 49 member states and governments in Asia and Europe exchanged views, priorities and plans on regional and global issues that are of common interest to both regions.

Prior to and in conjunction with ASEM9, the 9th Asia-Europe People’s Forum (AEPF9) was held on 16-19 October, 2012 under the title “People’s Solidarity against Poverty and for Sustainable Development: Challenging Unjust and Unequal Development, Building States of Citizens for Citizens“.

AEPF9 tackled four major themes or People’s Visions, which represent AEPF hopes for citizens of ASEM member countries and the communities they live in. These were:

• Universal Social Protection and Access to Essential Services;
• Food Sovereignty and Sustainable Land and Natural Resource Management;
• Sustainable Energy Production and Use; and
• Just Work and Sustainable Livelihoods