Source: Bernama (Malaysia)
Source type: News Agency
Published on: 21 Sep 2010
JAKARTA, Sept 21 (Bernama) -- Indonesia will focus on sustainable development issues in the 8th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) Summit, which will be held in Brussels this October, Antara news agency reported Tuesday. JAKARTA, Sept 21 (Bernama) -- Indonesia will focus on sustainable development issues in the 8th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) Summit, which will be held in Brussels this October, Antara news agency reported Tuesday.
Director of Intra-Regional Cooperation for America and Europe of the Foreign Affairs Ministry Dian Wirengjurit said sustainable development is one of the main concern of developing countries like Indonesia especially now that the nation is trying to achieve the millennium development goals (MDGs) by 2015.
"The discussion about sustainable development would reflect the continued cooperation commitment between Asia and Europe in reaching the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)," Dian said at a joint press conference with Belgian Ambassador to Indonesia Christian Tanghe and Deputy Chief of the European Union delegation to Indonesia Jan-Willem Blankert.
Reminding that the summit's result is not legally binding, Dian said the conference will produce some joint efforts and realisation for each country, and with shared commitment, something can be done to achieve the dreams.
He added that bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the ASEM summit, will also result in more concrete and binding cooperation.
Meanwhile, Ambassador Christian Tanghe said Belgium is honoured to host the 8th ASEM Summit, as this meeting is offers an unique opportunity for the 43 members from Asia and Europe, the European Commission, ASEAN Secretariat and three new members (Russia, New Zealand and Australia) to meet and boost their efforts to enhance the life of more than four billion people of the two regions.
I hope Indonesia and the European Union can work together to make the 8th ASEM Summit a success," he said.
In the summit, countries are expected to discuss issues related to economic and financial global governance, sustainable development, global and regional issues and people-to-people contacts.
In the 2nd Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) development conference in Yogyakarta in May 2010, delegations from Asia and Europe reaffirmed their commitment to give aids and grants based on mutually beneficial partnership.
Dian Wirengjurit who also participated in the meeting said the delegations had also reaffirmed their commitment to achieving the target of the MDGs according to their policies and strategies.
The summit will be held on Oct 4 and 5.
