Latest InfoBoard News


	NZ joins powerful EU-Asia forum New Zealand has become a new member of an influential grouping, the Asia-Europe Meeting, the first forum that connects New Zealand closely to the European Union. Read More NGOs want Asia-Europe Meeting to be pro-environment MANILA, Philippines-European countries must decrease their carbon emission and civil society groups that will participate in the Asia-Europe People's Forum (AEPF) want the heads of state and government from the two continents to come out with a strong statement for the environment. Read More 2nd ASEM Development Conference Conference Report now available The Conference Report from the 2nd ASEM Development Conference held last 26-27 May in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, is now available for download. Social cohesion, democracy and human rights BY SHADA ISLAM - Building an inclusive society where all citizens have access to jobs, health, education and housing, where democracy prevails and human rights are respected remains the over-arching goal in most parts of the world. As the economic crisis takes its toll, however, achieving social cohesion is getting even more difficult, both in Asia and Europe. Read more Building bridges through more people to people contacts BY SHADA ISLAM - Times change. Foreign relations used to be the exclusive domain of governments. Foreign ministries operated behind closed doors. Diplomats met other government officials, attended receptions and once in a while hosted a "cultural event" showcasing national folk music and dance. Read more Tackling the challenge of global governance reform BY SHADA ISLAM -- Two years ago at their meeting in Beijing, Asian and European leaders vowed joint action to rebuild the battered global economy. "We swim together, or we sink together," European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso told the ASEM summit. Can that message of solidarity and pledge of collective action be repeated again when Asia-Europe leaders gather in Brussels on October 4-5? Read more Europe and Asia as global security actors BY SHADA ISLAM -- Asia-Europe relations used to be about business, not politics. The emergence of the Southeast Asian "tiger" economies in the 1980s and Europe's quest for a share of the region's booming market helped spur the drive for closer Asia-Europe relations and the launch in Bangkok in 1996 of ASEM (Asia-Europe Meeting), an informal platform for discussion between the two sides. Read more A new Asia-Europe partnership for development BY SHADA ISLAM -- It used to be fairly simple - but it did not get results. Aid from rich industrialized countries to poorer ones was seen as the key to growth and development. Ministers and officials spent hours haggling over aid packages and critics routinely referred "hand-outs" to poor countries. Read more Yogyakarta Statement on Asia-Europe cooperation agreed at ASEM Development Conference At the ASEM Development Conference II, 26-27 May in Indonesia, more than 200 high-level participants held discussions on the future of Asia-Europe cooperation for sustainable development. The key outcome was the Yogyakarta Statement, to be presented as input to the 8th ASEM Summit of Heads of State and Government which will take place in Brussels, 4-5 October 2010. The Statement makes a number of recommendations on the main themes of the conference, such as climate change and low-carbon development, social cohesion, and policy coherence for development. The Yogyakarta Statement can be downloaded here. POSTPONED: Launching Ceremony of ASEM Eco-city Network & Workshop on Network Operation Mechanism The Launching Ceremony of ASEM Eco-city Network & Workshop on Network Operation Mechanism, to be held in Tianjin, China, on 13-14 May 2010, will be postponed to a later date. The ASEM InfoBoard will update the information once available. 9th ASEM Finance Ministers' Meeting Final Statement now available The Final Statement from the recently concluded 9th ASEM Finance Ministers' Meeting is now available for download here. Agenda for the 9th ASEM Finance Ministers' Meeting (FinMM) now available The Agenda / Programme of Events for the 9th ASEM Finance Ministers' Meeting (FinMM), held in Madrid, Spain on 17-18 April 2010, is now available online here. ASEM 8 Website The 8th ASEM Summit of Heads of State and Government, which will be held 4-5 October 2010 this year, now has an official website: www.asem8.be The 6th ASEM Interfaith Dialogue: Madrid Statement and Recommendations The Madrid Statement of the recently concluded 6th ASEM Interfaith Dialogue held last 7-9 April 2010 in Madrid/Toledo, is now available online, together with the recommendations made during the 8th Journalists' Colloquium, organised by the Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF). Winners of the ASEM Interfaith Cultural Photography Contest The winners for the ASEM Interfaith Cultural Photography Contest were selected last 8 January 2010. Winners will be awarded on 5 February 2010 and winning works will be exhibited at the Library Floor of the Bangkok Arts and Culture Centre in Thailand. ASEM Workshop on Building an Inclusive Information Society - Joint Statement by Participants The ASEM Workshop on Building an Inclusive Information Society was held last 1-2 December 2009 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, co-hosted by the European Commission and the Government of Malaysia. ASEM Workshop on Cooperation of Capacity Building of Disaster Relief The Ministry of Civil Affairs and Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China jointly hosted the "ASEM Workshop on Cooperation of Capacity Building of Disaster Relief" from 27 to 30 May 2009 in Chengdu, Sichuan Province of China. 7th ASEM Conference on Counter-Terrorism - Chairman's Statement The 7th ASEM Conference on Counter-Terrorism was held in Manila, Philippines on 22-23 June 2009. The Conference was chaired by Mr. Ricardo Blancaflor, Undersecretary of the Department of Justice and Spokesperson of the Anti-Terrorism Council of the Philippines. ASEM 9th Foreign Ministers Meeting - Chair's Statement Foreign Ministers from ASEM partners, European Commissioner for External Relation and ASEAN Secretary-General conducted candid, open and productive discussions on many important international and regional issues, enhancing cooperation between the two continents and making ASEM more effective and united in diversity. Please read and download the full Chair's Statement here. Agenda on ASEM Finance Deputies Meeting The latest draft agenda of this meeting, to be held on 19th June 2008 in Madrid, Spain, is available here. ASEM Forum on Marine Fisheries - Newsletter The newsletter on the ASEM Forum Towards Enhanced Cooperation and Better Understanding of Marine Fisheries, held in Brussels, Belgium on 28 and 29 April 2009 has now been published. Download here. ASEM Forum on Marine Fisheries - Press Release This document contains useful information for the press on the ASEM Forum event to be held in Brussels, Belgium on 28 and 29 April 2009. Read and download here. ASEM Development Conference: Joint Chair's Statement This statement summarises the pertinent discussions held at the Conference titled "Towards Sustainable Development", held on 20-21 April 2009 in Manila, the Philippines. Read and download here. ASEM Forum on Marine Fisheries - Briefing Paper for Exhibitors at the 16th Annual European Seafood Exposition This document provides background on the ASEM Forum on Marine Fisheries which is running in parallel with the Seafood Exposition (28-29 April 2009). Both events take place in Brussels and delegates from ASEM will visit the exposition on April 29. Download here. ASEM Forum on Marine Fisheries - Background Feature This feature provides a background feature on the event to be held in Brussels, Belgium on 28 and 29 April 2009. It was written by an independent journalist and is offered free for media use. Read more and download ASEM Forum on Marine Fisheries - Final Agenda The final agenda for the ASEM Forum Towards Enhanced Cooperation and Better Understanding of Marine Fisheries, to be held in Brussels, Belgium on 28 and 29 April 2009 has now been published. Download here. Background Information: ASEM Development Conference 2009 This document provides background info for the press related to the ASEM high-level conference on sustainable development (20-21 April 2009, Manila, the Philippines). Read and download here. Press Release Available: ASEM Development Conference 2009 This document contains useful information for the press related to the ASEM high-level conference on sustainable development (20-21 April 2009, Manila, the Philippines). Download here (PDF). The Summary Report for ASEM Seminar on New Technologies for Demining and Human Security The Seminar gave an opportunity to countries affected by the problem of landmines and countries producing demining-related technologies to exchange views, share their experiences in mine action, as well as to encourage technology producers and experts to come together focusing on innovative solutions to old problems. For the full report, click here. Information on 2nd ASEM Education Ministers' Meeting The Meeting's agenda and other detailed information are now available. Please click here. ASEM Seminar on New Technologies for Demining and Human Security The project's programme and other information is now available on this website. Please click here . Youth Interfaith Camp More information is now available on this upcoming initiative hosted by the Government of Thailand. Please click here to read more. Happy New Year As the festive season is approaching, we at the ASEM InfoBoard administration desk wish all visitors beautiful holiday moments and a coming year of peace, happiness and prosperity. Registration for ASEM Seminar on Cultural Expressions The organisers of ASEM Seminar on "Preserving and Promoting the Diversity of Cultural Expressions: Sharing Asian and European Experiences" is now inviting all interested organisations and individuals to take part in this event, by registering online. Read more.... Outcomes from ASEM 7 Focusing on the concrete and pragmatic outcomes, ASEM 7 produced the following important documents: The Chair's Statement, Beijing Declaration on Sustainable Development, and Statement on the International Financial Situation. To download these documents, please click here. ASEM 7 Media Accreditation The 7th ASEM Summit's organiser has provided detailed information on accreditation process for journalists interested to cover the Meeting. Read more. Website of ASEM 7 Information on ASEM 7, to be held in Beijing China on 24-25 October this year, is now available at the Meeting's official website www.asem7.cn Amsterdam Statement on Interfaith Dialogue The delegates present at the 4th ASEM Interfaith Dialogue (3-5 June 2008 in Amsterdam, The Netherlands) renewed their commitment to deepening and broadening the Interfaith Dialogue for the benefit of a peaceful and fruitful Asia-Europe relationship and underscored the importance of consolidating the Interfaith Dialogue as an annual ASEM event. Read more... 1st ASEM Ministerial Meeting on Education and Qualification - Chairman's Statement The outcome of this ASEM Conference of Ministers responsible for education is summarised in the Chairman's Statement, now available for viewing. 6th ASEM Conference on Counter-Terrorism - Chairman's Statement The Conference, co-hosted by Spain and Indonesia, was held in Madrid on 3-4 April 2008. The conclusions of the Meeting, reflected in its Chairman's Statement, can be read here. Call for Application: Second Asia-Europe Youth Interfaith Dialogue The Asia-Europe Foundation and the Indonesian Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Religious Affairs, as well as the Central Board of Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU), are calling for applications for the project. Registration is open until 25 May 2008. For details, please click here. SOMTI 11 - Chairman's Statement The Eleventh ASEM Senior Officials Meeting on Trade and Investment (SOMTI 11) was held in Maribor, Slovenia on 15-16 April 2008, chaired jointly by the Slovenian Presidency of the European Union and the European Commission. Click here to view the outcome of the Meeting. The Fourth ASEM Interfaith Dialogue Website The website for this fourth round of ASEM Interfaith Dialogue is now running. Please visit www.interfaith2008.com. Tentative Programme for ASEM Conference - Asia Europe and the Future of Regional Economic Integration Please see the tentative topics of discussion and programme for the Conference here. Information and Registration for 6th ASEM Counter-Terrorism Conference Registration for the above conference, to be hosted in Madrid on 3-4 April 2008, is now open until 10 March 2008. For more information on the Conference's objectives, agenda and registration details, please click here. Report from Second ASEM workshop on HIV/AIDS The copy of newsletter and report from the Second ASEM workshop on HIV/AIDS has been released. You can download it here. ASEM 7th Customs DG Commissioner Meeting Yokohama Declaration is an important document as a future direction of customs in ASEM countries that has been adopted at the above meeting in Yokohama, Japan. A copy of the document is available here. 8th ASEM Finance Ministers' Meeting (FinMM) The date of the Meeting has been confirmed to be 16 June 2008 and to take place in Jeju Island, Korea. It will be preceded by ASEM Finance Deputies' Meeting on 15 June 2008 at the same venue. For more information, please click here. ASEM Workshop on Avian Influenza Control - Concept Paper The concept paper and tentative programme of this workshop has been released and is now available on the InfoBoard. Please click here. Employment Workshops Related to the Restoration of Cultural Heritage and the Environment - Conclusion The conclusion and some photos from the Initiative is available for online viewing and download. Please click here. Nanjing Statement on Interfaith Dialogue The outcome from the Third ASEM Interfaith Dialogue has been released and is now available on the InfoBoard. Please click here. Documents from 8th ASEM Foreign Ministers' Meeting The final Chairman's Statement and Press Release are now available for viewing and download. Please click here. 2nd ASEM HIV/AIDS Workshop - More documents available Event information, programme, brief on the study visit and the Newsletter are now available. Please click here. Final document from Fifth ASEM Conference on Counter-Terrorism The Chair's Summary of the above-mentioned event is now available for reading and download. To read the web-based text, please click here. 3rd ASEM Environment Ministers' Meeting Declaration of the 3rd ASEM Environment Ministers' Meeting has been released and is now available on the InfoBoard. Please click here. ASEM Working Group on Intellectual Property: Meeting on Geographical Indications The meeting, co-facilitated by Thailand and France, was held on 30 June 2006 in Bangkok (Thailand), focusing on Geographical Indications. The final programme, presentations and outcome of this projects are now available here. ASEM Seminar on Regionalism vs Universalism in Global Order Poland hosted this event on 27-30 September 2006 in Jachranka, as part of its initiative to create ASEM Diplomatic Academies Network. Short summary of the event, final programme, list of participants and the group photo are now available here. Chairman's Statement of the Sixth Asia-Europe Meeting The sixth Asia- Europe Meeting (ASEM6) was held in Helsinki on 10- 11 September 2006. The Summit was attended by the Heads of State and Government of thirteen Asian and twenty- five European nations and the President of the European Commission. The Prime Minister of Finland, acting also as the President of the European Council, chaired this historic meeting. ASEM 6 Declaration on Climate Change This document details the declaration on Climate Change by the Heads of State and Government from thirteen Asian nations, twenty-five European nations and the President of the European Commission, gathered in Helsinki on 10 and 11 September 2006 for the 6th Asia-Europe Meeting. Helsinki Declaration on the Future of ASEM This document details the guiding principles to lead ASEM successfully into its second decade. First ASEM Labour and Employment Ministers Conference Chairman's Conclusions This is the Chairman's conclusion for the 1st ASEM Labour Ministers' Conference that was held in Berlin from 03 to 05 September 2006. 10 Years of ASEM: Global Challenges - Joint Responses This brochure is available for download at http://www.aseminfoboard.org/Summits/ASEM6 Larnaca Action Plan Available The document section of InfoBoard now has the Larnaca Action Plan on Interfaith Understanding and Cooperation for A Peaceful World. This is the awaited result of ASEM 2nd Interfaith Dialogue in July 2006. New Section: ASEM in the News A new section has been added on the InfoBoard to highlight ASEM's activities which are caught under the media's attention. "ASEM in the news" falls under a new section: "News and Media". It lists down articles from various media on ASEM. You could download the news from the documents attached to the entries. The 4th ASEM Conference on Counter-Terrorism Documents Available You could download the Chairman's Summary, several remarks and the final programme at our document section. Available: Final Report - 9th ASEM Customs Enforcement Working Group Meeting The meeting which was held in Korea on 20 and 21 April 2006 was attended by 25 ASEM member countries and other international institutions. You could download the final report containing conclusions and remarks from the meeting at our documents section. ASEM in Its Tenth Year A joint report by Japan Centre for International Exchange and University of Helsinki Network for European Studies presents an evaluation of ASEM in its first tenth year and an exploration of its future possibilities. You can obtain this report at our document section. Chairman's Statement from the 7th ASEM Financial Ministers' Meeting The seventh ASEM Finance Ministers' Meeting (ASEM FMM) was held in Vienna, Austria on 8/9 April, 2006. It was attended by the Finance Ministers from the ASEM Member Countries and the European Commission. High level officials of the Asian Development Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and the European Central Bank attended as guests. You could obtain the chairman's statement on our documents section or here. Chairman's Statement Available for the 4th ASEM Meeting for Directors General on Management of Migratory Flows between Europe and Asia was held in Bali, Indonesia on 5-7 December 2005, hosted by Indonesia and with the co-sponsorship of China, Denmark, Malaysia, Singapore, Spain, the United Kingdom and the European Commission. Counter Terrorism Seminar The document is available on our document section. The event was held in Semarang, Indonesia on 14 and 15 Nov 2005. Culture Ministers' Meeting 2 Document for Download ASEM Culture Ministers' Meeting 2 was successfully held in Paris, France on 7 & 8 June 2005. The downloadable file on our document section comprises English and French version of chairman's statement as well as speeches by French ministers and Director-General of UNESCO. ASEM Foreign Ministers' Meeting 7 Documents Available Held in Kyoto, Japan on 6 & 7 May 2005, the meeting is chaired by Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan Mr. Nobutaka Machimura. New addition: Conclusion of Trade Facilitation Action Plan (TFAP) Meeting on eCommerce Immediately following ASEM E-Commerce conference (21-22 Feb 2005), on 23 Feb 2005 in London, the Trade Facilitation Action Plan (TFAP) Meeting for government officials took place to consider the outcomes of the conference. The conclusions of this meeting is now available in our document section. Get the Conclusions of ASEM/TFAP Meeting on Standards & Conformity Assessment Held in Japan on 2 & 3 February 2005, the meeting produces 11 conclusions which cover several areas. The meeting publishes conclusions that you can obtain from ASEM Document sections. Report on Best Regulatory Practices Seminar is up ASEM Seminar on Best Regulatory Practices this year is held in Japan on 1 February 2005. It is lead by Japan and participated by approximately 40 people from other 11 partner countries. Launch of ASEM InfoBoard ASEM InfoBoard will be officially launched at the commemorative ASEM 5 Summit in Hanoi. Date of launch is set on 6 October 2004 and will feature several VIP guests from member countries.

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