The 12th ASEM Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (ASEMFMM12) was chaired by Federica Mogherini, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, and hosted by the Government of Luxembourg. The ASEM FMM 12 was held under the theme “Working Together for a Sustainable and Secure Future“.
The Foreign Ministers’ Meeting was a very important occasion as it will prepare the 20th anniversary at the 11th ASEM Summit (ASEM11) in Mongolia next year. It also took place just a few weeks before the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Paris. As such, climate change and the future of ASEM, along with international and regional issues and connectivity, featured high on the agenda.
51 Foreign Ministers from 30 European and 21 Asian countries as well as the Secretary General of ASEAN participated in the two-day meeting. The meeting comprised of, on the first day, an opening session and two plenary sessions and, on the second day, a retreat session as well as a closing session and a final press conference. At the end of the meeting, a Chair’s Statement was issued. A large number of bilateral meetings took place in the margins of the Ministerial Meeting.
ASEM Foreign Ministers’ Meetings, in addition to pursuing the ASEM dialogue under the first and third pillars (political dialogue, co-operation in other areas), are also responsible for the overall coordination of the ASEM Process.