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1st LD Writethru: Asian, European foreign ministers discuss ways to enhance connectivity

Xinhua, November 5, 2015 Adjust font size:

Foreign ministers from Asian and European countries gathered here Thursday for a meeting within the framework of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) to discuss ways to enhance connectivity between Europe and Asia across a range of sectors.

"Over the next day and half, we will be discussing global issues, which are relevant for both our continents and are relevant for the entire world: climate change, sustainable development, the management of natural disasters," Federica Mogherini, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission, said at the opening ceremony.

"Our countries and continents have always been connected and are becoming more and more inter-connected. Connectivity shouldn't be just a slogan. Building networks, infrastructures for better connections between Europe and Asia, and within our regions -- this is the task of our era," said Mogherini, who chaired the meeting.

The 12th ASEM Foreign Ministers' Meeting will prepare for ASEM's 20th anniversary to be celebrated at the ASEM Summit in Mongolia in July 2016.

"It will be an important occasion to confirm the region-to-region dialogue and cooperation in the context of ASEM," said the foreign ministers in a press release.

Moreover, the meeting will work towards building consensus toward an ambitious, global and legally binding agreement under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

Disaster management, the future of ASEM, migration and the fight against terrorism and extremism will also feature during the leaders' talks.

At the end of the meeting, a chair's statement will be issued.

Foreign ministers from about 50 European and Asian countries, as well as the secretary-general of ASEAN are participating in the two-day meeting.

ASEM is an intergovernmental forum for dialogue and cooperation which fosters political dialogue, reinforces economic cooperation and promotes collaboration in other areas of common interest.

The initial ASEM partnership in 1996 consisted of 15 EU member states and seven ASEAN member states plus China, Japan, South Korea and the European Commission.

In October 2014, Croatia and Kazakhstan joined the bloc, which brought total ASEM membership to 53 partners. Endit