Source: Bernama (Malaysia)
Source type: News Agency
Published on: 21 Sep 2010
JAKARTA, Sept 21 (Bernama) -- The Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) is expected to bring new opportunities for forging broader and better cooperation between Asian and European countries, China's Xinhua news agency reported Tuesday. JAKARTA, Sept 21 (Bernama) -- The Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) is expected to bring new opportunities for forging broader and better cooperation between Asian and European countries, China's Xinhua news agency reported Tuesday.
According to Deputy Head of European Union delegation to Indonesia and Brueni Darussalam Jan-Willem Blankert, the ASEM is a unique vehicle for bringing together 45 states representing nearly 60 percent of the world's population and 60 percent of the world trade.
Like Indonesia and the European Union, he said the ASEM derives its vitality from the diversity of its participants and their commitments to working together across many important fields.
"We look forward to a rewarding the 8th ASEM Summit, that it will present new opportunities for forging broader and better cooperation between Asia and Europe," Blankert told a joint press conference.
Belgian Ambassador to Indonesia Christian Tanghe said that his country is honoured to host the 8th ASEM Summit, which affords a unique opportunity for participants to invigorate endeavor in improving quality of life of 4 billion citizens.
"With our shared values rooted in democracy and human rights, Indonesia and the EU are well-placed to stimulate the wide ranging discussions that will take place in Brussels," he said.
The 8th ASEM Summit will be held on Oct 4 to 5 in Brussels, Belgium. The meeting will officially welcome Australia, Russia and New Zealand as new ASEM partners.
ASEM is an informal process of dialog and cooperation, bringing together the 27 European Union member states and the European Commission with 16 Asian countries and the ASEAN Secretariat.
The ASEM dialogue will address political, economic and cultural issues, with the objective of strengthening the relationship between two regions, in a spirit of mutual respect, mutual benefit and equal partnership.
