Political Pillar | Economic Pillar | Social, Cultural, and Educational Pillar

Political Pillar

Traditionally, the political dialogue is a key element of the ASEM process. High-level meetings held as part of ASEM, at Heads of State and Government as well as at Foreign Ministers levels, have allowed the development of a genuine dialogue on the main political issues of concern to ASEM partners. ASEM has become a privileged framework where Asian and European countries can discuss major global issues on the international agenda, such as terrorism, Weapons of Mass-Destruction (WMD), migrations, dialogue of Cultures and Civilisations, environment, Human Rights, or the impact of globalisation. ASEM is also a privileged process where regional developments can be addressed in a non-confrontational way.

ASEM political pillar's activities focus on international crisis, security, multilateralism. In addition it seeks to open up the dialogue with policy-makers from Europe and Asia.

The ASEM political pillar offers a privileged dialogue platform to address international and regional issues. It provides with additional consultation opportunities in an informal setting. It is worth noting that, for instance on North-Korea, all the key partners are around the ASEM table, hence allowing ASEM to develop a substantial dialogue on the situation on the Korean peninsula.

ASEM Leaders and Ministers have regularly exchanged their views and occasionally taken a common stance on international and regional developments of common interest. On certain issues, when deemed appropriate, ASEM Leaders and ASEM Foreign Ministers have endorsed separate political declaration. It was for example the case on the Middle East Peace Process and India-Pakistan relations when the situation in the region was rapidly deteriorating (Foreign Ministers Meeting of 4 June 2002 in Madrid).

At the Foreign Ministers Meetings in Bali in July 2003 and in Kildare (Ireland) in April 2004, ASEM Foreign Ministers discussed regional developments including the political situation in Burma/Myanmar. Ministers discussed recent political developments in Burma/Myanmar. The Ministers called on the Government of Myanmar to release Daw Aung San Suu Kyl and other NLD partners and ensure them freedom of political activities. They called upon Burma/Myanmar to resume its efforts toward national reconciliation and democracy. Subsequently, ASEM 5 and 6 Summits saw discussion on the latest situation in Burma/Myanmar, North Korea, as well as the situation in Afghanistan, Iraq and in the Middle East.

ASEM political pillar has worked towards reinforcing the multilateral system and promoting a Asia-Europe dialogue on key-issues. The ASEM Foreign Ministers Meeting 3 in Beijing (24-25 May 2001) agreed to further develop ASEM dialogue in the fields of arms control, disarmament and UN reforms. In fact, the ASEM political dialogue can facilitate the streamlining of the international agenda, and enhance multilateral co-operation. One prime example of this ASEM co-operation is the decision to hold consultations on an had hoc basis before sessions of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly at the appropriate level in New York or other agreed places to exchange views on relevant agenda items. A first informal meeting of the Ambassadors of ASEM partners to the UN took place on 7 September 2001 in New York before the planned UN General Assembly. Other informal meetings in New-York, at Ambassadors level have taken place since. The ASEM 4 Summit (Copenhagen, 22-24 September 2002), drawing on the positive experience of the consultative meetings of ASEM partners at the United Nations, has decided that ASEM partners should continue this political dialogue, by establishing an ad hoc informal consultative mechanism enabling ASEM Coordinators and Senior Officials to exchange views on significant international events.

Pursuant to 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks, the fight against international terrorism has become a priority in the political dialogue among ASEM partners. At the ASEM 4 Summit (Copenhagen 2002), Leaders have underlined their determination to fight international terrorism, while underlining the need to address the root causes of the emergence of terrorism. They pledged to work closely together to combat this threat to global peace and security, sustainable economic development and political stability. It was stressed that the fight against terrorism should be based on the leading role of the United Nations and the principles of the UN Charter. Leaders have adopted the ASEM Copenhagen Declaration on Cooperation against International Terrorism and the ASEM Copenhagen Cooperation Programme on Fighting International Terrorism. Actions are planned under the 2002 ASEM Copenhagen Cooperation Programme including, inter alia, organizations of seminars, greater Europe-Asia cooperation at the UN level (accession and implementation of existing international counter-terrorism conventions and work towards the finalisation of UN Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism and Convention on Nuclear Terrorism), increased cooperation on customs, air and maritime security, money laundering.

Specific activities are now being undertaken. A Seminar on counter-terrorism was held in Beijing on 22-23 September 2003 during which ASEM partners reaffirmed the need to cooperate in the context of the United Nations, and on issues such as money-laundering. The next conference will be held in Germany in October 2004. Furthermore, an ASEM anti-money laundering project is being implemented.

ASEM political dialogue has been active in the field weapons of mass destruction and non-proliferation. At the ASEM Foreign Minister in Bali in July 2003, Ministers exchanged views on the issue of Weapons of Mass-Destruction and agreed to issue a separate Political Declaration on the prevention of the proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction and their means of delivery. This Political Declaration reaffirms the importance of comprehensive and non-discriminatory implementation of relevant international conventions, in particular the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, the Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty, the Biological Weapons Convention and Chemicals Weapons Convention, IAEA safeguards agreements and relevant protocols.

The ASEM spirit of promoting open exchanges applies also to more sensitive issues like Human rights. A series of informal ASEM Symposia on Human Rights and the Rule of Law has been taken place since 1997. First proposed by Sweden and cosponsored by France, this series of symposia on Human Rights is not formally considered as an official ASEM activity, but has attracted the regular participation of all ASEM partners and is supported by the Asia-Europe Foundation. Five such symposia have now been held, co-organised by Sweden, France, Indonesia and China. Issues addressed include access to justice, differences in Asian and European values, freedom of speech, sovereignty and humanitarian intervention, freedom of conscience and religion. Participation in the seminars has been tripartite: officials, NGOs and academics.

ASEM political dialogue has initiated parliamentary contacts whereby partners of Parliament from ASEM countries can develop more direct contacts. The Asia-Europe Parliamentary Partnership (ASEP) was set up to facilitate such contacts, with its first meeting held in Strasbourg (France) on 1996. The European Parliament has also followed the ASEM process closely.

Environmental issues have become important on the international agenda, and ASEM has developed a genuine dialogue on international environmental issues. ASEM partners discuss key environmental issues, in particular on the future of the Kyoto Protocol and climate change, on the follow up of the World Summit for Sustainable Development, and on the general multilateral framework. At the ASEM Environment Ministerial Meeting in Lecce (11-12 October 2003), it was stressed that ASEM should be used to develop consultations among partners ahead of major international conferences on environmental issues. It was also agreed to hold an "ASEF Asia-Europe Environment Forum" as a venue for informal ASEM consultations with civil society. Thus, on environmental matters, ASEM shows its capacity to foster dialogue on global issues and link with multilateral discussion as well as promote co-operation with civil society.

Migration has become a topic of discussion in the ASEM context following an ASEM Ministerial Conference on Cooperation for the Management of Migratory Flows between Europe and Asia which was held in Spain in April 2002, at the initiative of China, Germany and Spain. The Conference agreed on a follow-up including an exchange of information on flows of migrants and migration management, cooperation in improving the quality and security of travel documents, fighting forgery of documents, setting up networks of immigration and consular liaison officers and meetings at expert and director-general level.

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Economic Pillar

ASEM Summits are good avenues to reinforce the economic partnership between Europe and Asia. WTO-related issues are always  high on the agenda, with discussions on the economic pillar of ASEM focusing on globalization, and sustainable development.

So far, ASEM economic dialogue and cooperation have been focusing on the need to better manage economic globalization by promoting multilateralism, enhancing business frameworks between the two regions, and developing innovative ideas in the field of finance, including promoting the role of the Euro. Hence, activities in the economic pillar have been designed to foster cooperation on the issues of reduction of barriers to trade and investment, on matters pertaining to financial and social policy reform, and to promote dialogue on issues relating to the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

Issues discussed at the Summits include trade facilitation and trade security, trade and development, regionalism and multilateralism, information and communication technology focusing on aspect of competition and liberalization, and investment issues.

ASEM has provided a forum for Asia and Europe to discuss WTO matters, especially during the preparation of WTO ministerial meetings. ASEM offers additional consultative opportunities to address commercial issues regarding implementation of WTO provisions. Since ASEM was launched, Chair statements have consistently made reference to WTO, and that trade liberalization should be conducted through WTO. In addition, ASEM economic dialogue has promoted compliance with applicable international agreements rules by way of peer pressure.

Within the economic pillar, a particular emphasis has been placed on the removal of barriers to trade and investment flows. This work is carried forward in particular through a dialogue on WTO issues, the implementation of a Trade Facilitation Action Plan (TFAP) aimed at the reduction and removal of non-tariff barriers to trade between the two regions, as well as through the implementation of an Investment Promotion Action Plan (IPAP) to promote two-way investment flows between Europe and Asia, and including both a review of investment promotion measures and a dialogue on investment policy.

ASEM financial dialogue focuses mainly on macro-economic issues by regularly reviewing the global economic situation and financial developments in both regions. Finance ministers have pursued a dialogue on matters of common interest, including exchanges of views on international financial architecture, on more effective implementation of existing supervisory principles and regulations in the financial sector, on combating money laundering, and strengthening co-operation in the field of customs.

Responding to the Asian financial crisis, the ASEM London Summit (1998) took two major initiatives by adopting an ASEM Trade Pledge, expressing the common resolve of all ASEM partners to resist any protectionist pressures and at least to maintain the current level of market access while pursuing further multilateral liberalisation, which was recognised as the most effective means of overcoming protectionist pressures and helping to alleviate the crisis.

An ASEM Trust Fund was launched to provide technical advice and training to assist with policy reform in both the financial and social sectors in countries affected by the crisis. This was supported by the creation by the EC of a European Financial Expertise Network (EFEX), to assist in locating high-level expertise in the field of financial reform in ASEM partners.

The Asia-Europe Business Forum (AEBF) is an annual meeting where the private and public sectors meet to exchange views, network and debate issues in specific working groups. AEBF provides an opportunity for the business community from Asia and Europe to review issues relating to trade and investment matters as well as providing some input to the official dialogue. As a matter of fact, private sector has an important role to play in identifying obstacles to trade and investment in ASEM countries. The first AEBF meeting was held in Paris in October 1996 and since it has been held annually. In addition, there are informal interactions between the Heads of States attending ASEM Summits and business leaders.

During ASEM 4 Leaders decided to set up an action oriented task force to work towards Closer ASEM Economic Partnership between Europe and Asia.

Taking into account work already carried out within the ASEM economic pillar the task force's mandate covers three areas: trade, investment and finance.

ASEM partners nominated personalities of high political standing and long experience in Asia-Europe relations for the Task Force. The Task Force reports to ASEM Finance and Economic Ministers about its progress and delivered its final recommendations to the the Summits. The Task Force has focused its deliberations so far on key international economic issues, such as the current round of multilateral trade negotiations, the Doha Development Round, the development in financial markets in Asia and the exchange rates between the major international currencies.

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Social, cultural, intellectual pillar

ASEM Summits called for the strengthening of cultural links between Asia and Europe, in particular closer people-to-people contacts, which are indispensable for the promotion of greater awareness and understanding between the two regions. By creating new personal links, ASEM will help overcome misperceptions that may exist, with a view to helping peoples to be more aware of the issues affecting our common future, and to better understand each other through dialogue. Mutual understanding will be further reinforced through cultural, artistic, educational activities and exchanges involving particularly youth and students of the two regions. Through a process of socialization, ASEM pillar 3 facilitates the building of common knowledge among ASEM partners. ASEM  Summits are always seen as opportunities to deepen the dialogue on Cultures and Civilisations within ASEM, and to promote of education exchanges between the two regions through Asia-Europe Higher Education Exchanges.

A new dimension of ASEM was underlined during the ASEM 4 Summit (2002) and the retreat session held on "Dialogue on Cultures and Civilisations". Pursuant to this retreat meeting, ASEM Leaders have decided to develop such a dialogue at all levels of ASEM cooperation. As a follow-up, an ASEM Conference on Cultures and Civilisations was held at political level in China in 2003. At this conference, attended by ASEM ministers in charge of culture or relevant portfolios and eminent partners from civil society, it was agreed to promote cultural diversity and dialogue and cooperation among Cultures and Civilisations by way of developing exchanges on cultural policies as well as preserving and promoting traditional and contemporary forms of arts and culture.

This development also demonstrated that ASEM pillars are interlinked. The political dimension of the social, cultural and intellectual pillar can not be isolated from the political dialogue. Therefore, proper synergies are to be promoted among ASEM pillars. In that respect, the social, cultural and intellectual pillar is an effective delivery process to enhance knowledge, understanding and tolerance, and to avoid stereotypes and conflicts.

Various ASEM initiatives have been taken forward by individual ASEM partners, through seminars and workshops addressing issues such as globalisation, labour relations, human resources, child welfare, or through electronic networking in fields including vocational and primary education.

However, an important and central institution of the social, cultural and intellectual pillar is the Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF) based in Singapore. To date, ASEF is the sole ASEM ?institution? as such. Since its launch in 1997, ASEF has been very active in implementing its mandate, especially given its large scope of action and its resources. ASEF mandate is to promote and catalyse cultural, intellectual and people-to-people exchanges between Europe and Asia.

After several years of activity, it would be necessary to see how ASEF could be better integrated with other ASEM activities. Furthermore, the ASEM 4 Summit in 2002 stressed that ASEF should ensure its financial sustainability. To ensure the long term sustainability of ASEF and develop its self-financing capacities, the funding principles of ASEF (the Dublin principles) has been revised accordingly.

Several initiatives have been developed in the field of education. Two major ASEM programmes were launched, namely the ASEM Education Hubs and ASEM Duo. The European Commission intends to provide 100 million to fund the extension of its programme ERASMUS Mundus to Asia.

ASEM Education Hubs: In October 1998, Singapore proposed the establishment of a network of ASEM education hubs, whereby individual universities would volunteer as centres of excellence in a particular field relevant to Asia-Europe relations, and be ready to receive exchange students from other hub institutes for one or two semesters. By the end of 2003, universities in 22 countries from the two regions had joined the network and 540 scholarships in arts, business and science were awarded amounting to 2.4 million Euro. ASEF plays the role of a clearinghouse in its implementation and continues to actively promote the network in all ASEM countries.

ASEM DUO: The ASEM-DUO Fellowship Programme, funded by ASEM partners, is a fellowship-granting programme for university students and teachers in pairs (DUO) of ASEM countries who wish to go to Europe or Asia (i.e. Asians to Europe, Europeans to Asia) for further study, research or joint lectures. This Fellowship Programme, established in 2001, aims to contribute to enhancing reciprocal academic exchanges between students and teachers of the European Union and those of Asian countries of ASEM. The original target of funds for the ASEM-DUO was 26 million Euro for the period of 2001 through 2005. DUO-Korea, DUO-Singapore, DUO-France and DUO-Denmark have been already launched. The Secretariat was set up in Seoul in October 2001, and serves as a focal contact point and depository for relevant information of the programme. More information at: http://www.asemduo.org

The ASEM Educational Process

The ASEM Educational Process started with its first meeting at the ministerial level in Berlin 2008, where representatives from the ASEM members underlined the importance of an intensified cooperation in higher education and vocational training.

In 2009, the ASEM Ministers responsible for Higher Education met in Hanoi to decide on further steps to be taken. Amongst others, they agreed “to establish a rotating ASEM education secretariat to ensure effective coordination and sustainable progress on the ASEM process”.

The Secretariat will be hosted at the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) in Germany for an initial period of 4 years.

For further information on the Secretariat and its agenda, kindly refer to the ASEM Education Secretariat’s website: http://www.asem-education-secretariat.org.

2nd ASEM Education Ministers’ Meeting: Conclusions of the Chair 

Contact details

ASEM Education Secretariat c/o DAAD
Kennedyallee 5053175 Bonn - Germany   

phone: +49 228 882 467
fax:   +49 228 882 555
mail:  asem-secretariat@daad.de

Developing cooperation on Information Technology (IT): Trans-Eurasian Information Network (TEIN)

To promote cultural dialogue and exchanges between people, several ASEM initiatives have been approved to reinforce the cooperation on Information Technology. The development of networks across the Eurasian continent in order to intensify relations between Europe and Asia is essential over the long-term. A project like the Trans-Eurasian Information Network (TEIN) has wide-ranging implications for Asia and Europe. By creating a direct link between European and Asian research and education networks, Europe and Asia are building a privileged space for dialogue and cooperation.

TEIN project was endorsed as one of the new ASEM initiative at the 3rd ASEM Summit in Seoul in 2000. The connectivity between European and Asian research and education networks is currently only possible through the commercial Internet via North America. A direct link between Asia and Europe would close the existing gap between the two regions and will allow a better collaboration between Asian and European partners.

The European Commission has approved a grant of 10 million in support of TEIN. The purpose of the project is to increase direct co-operation between Europe and Asia in the field of research and education. Its overall objective is to foster economic growth and understanding between Europe and Asia through better awareness, access to, and use of interconnectivity between Europe and Asia as well as within Asia. Beneficiaries will not only be the scientific community to develop research and development activities, but also the population at large who will benefit from the development of virtual institutes and laboratories. For further details, see: http://www.transeurasia.org

ASEM is not only about European officials meeting Asian officials. ASEM purpose is also to reach out to Asian and European societies. The social, cultural, intellectual pillar has been a key element in promoting dialogue and creating a better understanding between peoples of Europe and Asia. Within this pillar, ASEF has played a leading role in initiating programmes and contacts. However, ASEF is not tasked and funded to manage all contacts between Asian and European societies. Outside the government dialogue, civil society groups (through the Asia Europe People's Forum) have met on a regular basis.

ASEM seeks to combine a top-down approach with a bottom-up supplement by associating state actors and non state actors around a global work agenda. Greater participation of civil society in some ASEM activities will help increasing ASEM profile as well as promoting ASEM goals and purpose in a wider context. Outside the government dialogue, civil society groups (through the Asia Europe People's Forum) have met on a regular basis.

The European Commission is committed to make ASEM more participatory and visible. Following-up on previous similar events, the organization of a successful Asia-Europe Consultative Seminar with Civil Society in Brussels in November 2003 provided an opportunity to bring together non-state actors from both Europe and Asia to exchange views on how the civil society dialogue of both regions can be enhanced and how transparency and public awareness of ASEM can be improved. As a follow-up, it was proposed to encourage civil society activities in connection with ASEM as and when deemed appropriate by host-countries. In addition, the Asia-Europe Consultative Seminar prompted fourteen recommendations and proposals to develop the Asia-Europe Political and Social Partnerships, to enhance role of civil society and to develop a long-term perspective on ASEM. Proceedings of the seminar are available at: http://www.eias.org/conferences/euasiacivilsoc1711.html

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