Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM)

Topic A: Sustainable Agricultural Trade and Development

Topic B: Protection of Cultural Heritage

The Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) is the main multilateral channel for communication and dialogue between Asia and Europe since 1996. This interregional forum is an informal process of dialogue and co-operation bringing together the 27 European Union Member States and the European Commission with 16 Asian countries and the ASEAN Secretariat. ASEM addresses political, economic and cultural issues, with the objective of strengthening the relationship between the two regions, in a spirit of mutual respect and equal partnership. ASEM has no secretariat, but summit meetings of the head of states are held every second year. Apart from the summit meetings, the ASEM process is carried forward through a series of ministerial and working-level meetings, as well as a number of activities arising from this.

ASEM activities can be grouped into three main “pillars”: political, economic, and cultural issues. Within each of these fields, a number of activities have already been given priority, including for example in the political field, areas of common interest include the fight against terrorism or the management of migratory flows; in the economic and financial field, cooperation on reducing barriers to trade and investment, and on financial and social policy reform; and in the cultural and educational field, a wide range of enhanced contacts and dialogue between the two regions, and co-operation in the protection of cultural heritage. Further information on work of the Asia-Europe Meeting can be found here.