In commemoration of the 25th anniversary of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM), Viet Nam hosted the High-level Policy Dialogue titled “ASEM at 25: Strengthening Asia-Europe Partnership in a Transforming World”, held in a hybrid format of virtual and physical meetings, in the afternoon of 22 June 2021 (Viet Nam time, GMT+7).
The Dialogue attracted approximately 200 participants online and offline from 48 ASEM members, including a number of ASEM Foreign Ministers, ASEM SOM leaders, Ambassadors from ASEM member countries in Viet Nam, senior policymakers, researchers, practitioners, universities, businesses, related regional and international organizations and other stakeholders, including the Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF).
The Dialogue was particularly joined by Minister of Foreign Affairs of Viet Nam, High Representative/Vice President of Europe Union, Deputy Prime Minister/Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Cambodia, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Singapore, First Secretary of State and Foreign Secretary of United Kingdom, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Republic of Korea, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Laos PDR and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Portugal.
At the Dialogue, participants and speakers discussed how ASEM started with the vision to build a “New comprehensive Asia-Europe Partnership for Greater Growth” and now, ASEM has developed into a leading inter-regional cooperation mechanism for peace, stability and prosperity. Leveraging the strengths of member countries, the Forum has grown robustly. Its membership has enlarged and areas of cooperation have expanded over the years. ASEM members have benefited from close cooperation on issues of great importance to the development of the regions, such as the transfer of knowledge and best practices, and socio–cultural and intellectual exchanges.
The Dialogue has identified that Asia – Europe Partnership and cooperation is more important than ever with the profound transformation in all aspects as a result of scientific and technological breakthroughs, geo-economic and geo-political shifts, and the emergence of new, complex, inter-related traditional and non-traditional security challenges in the world.
With that said, in the next 25 years, ASEM is suggested to take stronger resolve, bolder actions, crafting a compelling vision and goal of building a people-people center and global ASEM in response to a changing environment and new developments.
Kindly see the relevant concept note and programme on the Documents section of this page.
Below are the remarks from the various speakers:
Opening Remarks
H.E. Mr Bui Thanh Son – Viet Nam
H.E. Josep Borell – European Union
H.E. Dr Vivian Balakrishnan – Singapore
H.E. Mr Sergey Lavrov – Russian Federation
Rt. Hon. Dominic Raab – United Kingdom
H.E. Mr Chug Eui Yong – Republic of Korea
H.E. Saleumxay Kommasith – Lao PDR
H.E. Mr Francisco Andre – Portugal
Session 1
ASIA AND EUROPE IN A RESETTING WORLD
H.E. Mr.Khaled Mohamed Khiari – United Nations (video)
H.E. Ngurah Swajaya – Indonesia
Session 2
SHAPING A VISION FOR STRONGER ASIA – EUROPE PARTNERSHIP
Ms. Caitlin Wiesen – UNDP Resident Representative
H.E. Ms. Cristina Romlia – Romania
AAL Dr. Kirill Barsky – Russia
Mr Markus Ferber – HSF (video)
Closing Remarks
