News Analysis: European officials stress cooperation with Asia in tackling global challenges

European leaders attending the foreign ministers' meeting within the framework of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) have on many occasions stressed the importance of cooperation between Europe and Asia in tackling shared global challenges.

The aim of the two-day meeting on Nov. 5-6 was to review the commitments made during the ASEM Summit in Milan in October 2014 and prepare for the 20th anniversary of ASEM, which will be celebrated at the next ASEM Summit in Mongolia in July 2016.

KEY PLAYERS IN GLOBAL GEOPOLITICS

The items on the agenda for the first session on Thursday were climate change, the Sustainable Development Program for 2030 and the management and reduction of disaster risks; the second session focuses on connectivity and the future of ASEM.

The ministers discussed international and regional affairs Friday morning and the meeting was scheduled to conclude at noon Friday.

Grand Duke Henri, royal head of state of Luxembourg, highlighted in his opening speech on Thursday the fact that Asia and Europe were "key players in global geopolitics".

"ASEM has 53 partners; 11 of them are G20 members. Together, our two continents bring together about half of the world's GDP, about 60 percent of its population and almost 60 percent of its trade. These figures speak for themselves," he said.

For him, one of ASEM's major challenges over the coming decade will be to "shape political, economic and social development in Europe and Asia in the spirit of mutually beneficial cooperation". He said that this development should be based on "sustainable economies" and should contribute to "strengthening new 'silk routes' and connectivity between Europe and Asia".

NEED FOR COMMON APPROACH TO TACKLING CHALLENGES

European Union (EU) foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini highlighted the need for a common approach between the EU and Asia in order to tackle global challenges.

She explained that the subjects on the agenda of the meeting, in particular climate change, sustainable development goals and natural disaster management, were of interest both for Asia and Europe.

Welcoming the fact that the European and Asian continents were "increasingly interconnected", she underlined the importance of strengthening connectivity between the two continents through "the construction of networks and infrastructure for better connection between Europe and Asia and within our regions.

Federica Mogherini praised the fact that Europe and Asia have learned to cooperate on all matters, including "the most difficult ones", for example, migration, counter-terrorism, trade and shared values between the EU and Asia.

"Although, in most cases, we do not share the same borders, we share the same concerns about the problems related to the current crises", she declared, referring to Syria, Libya, and the global threat of terrorism and radicalization.

FURTHER STRENGTHENING ASEM ECONOMIC PILLAR

Luxembourg foreign minister Jean Asselborn said on Thursday that Europe-Asia dialogue "has proven its worth" over the past 19 years by welcoming new partners, adapting to new challenges and opening up to subjects of mutual interest, such as nuclear safety, tourism, human rights, logistical transport networks, intercultural dialogue, connectivity and youth employment.

In his view, ASEM has been since its creation in 1996 a "key platform" for political dialogue, economic cooperation and cultural and social exchanges between Europe and Asia and "a forum which contributes to greater understanding in order to tackle global and regional challenges and promote peace, prosperity and sustainable development for all".

"But ASEM must also strengthen its economic pillar", Asselborn added, pointing out that connectivity, in all its aspects, could make this a reality.

Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Wang Chao, leading a delegation, attended the meeting. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying expressed the hope that the foreign ministers' meeting will promote work in the three areas of politics, economy and culture in a balanced way, guide the development of the Asia-Europe Meeting in the next ten years, and push Asia-Europe all-round partnership onto a new stage.

The ASEM is an important platform to boost understanding, expand consensus and deepen cooperation among Asian and European countries, Hua said ahead of the meeting.

The Asia-Europe Meeting was created in 1996 as a forum for dialogue and cooperation between Europe and Asia.

Foreign ministers from about 50 European and Asian countries, as well as the foreign policy chief of the European Union and the secretary-general of ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) participated in the two-day meeting. Endit