EU envoy on platform for Asia-Europe cooperation

An Asia-Europe Meeting summit is scheduled to open on Friday, or October 24, in Beijing.

In an appraisal of the imminent Seventh ASEM summit, European Union Ambassador to China Serge Abou said in an interview with PD reporter Wang Fang that Europe and Asia have much in common but they are also faced with numerous common problems, and that the ASEM could put up a "beneficial platform" for the two continents to communicate and heed each other's advices on their shared issues.

Ambassador Serge Abou summarized hallmarks of the Seventh ASEM from three aspects: First: Venue. The choice of Beijing as the summit's venue is very symbolic, he said, as it has successfully held the 2008 Olympic Games and China has constantly increased its role in global politics and world economy. Secondly: Scale. This is the most vital conference of its kind ever held in the history of Asia or Europe as well as a meeting much to be expected, since it would be attended by 45 leaders from 27 EU member states and 18 Asian countries.

Thirdly: The opportune time. The summit is coincided with the onslaught of a global financial crisis amid the growing concern of people for food safety as well as worries over energy, the state of environment and climate change worldwide. Noting that there are a host of issues to be tackled at present, he acknowledged, the dialogues partners representing these countries that make up about 60 percent of the global population and 60 percent of the world trade value would meet in Beijing to explore and look into problems, and this fact itself is a success.

Ambassador Abou spoke highly of splendid, superb preparations so far made for the incoming summit and commended its Preparatory Committee and four coordinators for the summit agenda they had worked out and careful, meticulous coordination made on behalf of the European and Asian sides.

Concerning the new progress scored in Asian-European cooperation, he said, the European-Asian trade volume between has far exceeded that of European-American trade, and the two-way investment between Europe and Asia is really impressive over the past two years. Moreover, Asia is the first choice as the European tourist destination, while Europe is a major area for Asian investment and a priority choice for Asian students, he added. In the realm of politics, there have been more frequent meetings between European and Asian leaders with a steady, increased common understanding and cooperation between their countries.

When internal changes have occurred both in Europe and Asia in recent years, the process of European integration is continuing or deepening, and regional cooperation in Asia is being promoted, acknowledged Abou, Asian countries have beefed up consultations on financial and monetary matters and other economic issues; they have also worked to activate or expand the inter-regional trade and plan to establish a free-trade area. The fast development and progress of Asia conforms to a "multi-polar world" concept maintained and shared by both Europe and China alike.

When asked about the significance of Asian-Europe cooperation to the promotion of global multilateralism and to endorsement of diversified global civilizations, he said, this is crucial, and the Europe-Asia cooperation is particularly pressing in today's economic globalization. As mutual dependence among nations has turned more intensified in the contemporary world, so in case of a crisis or a disease that erupts in a nation, it will soon transmit, infiltrate or spread to another nation or a region, he explained.

In such circumstances, bilateral and multilateral consultations and cooperation should be enhanced and, with regard to the sphere of respecting and giving scope to the role of the United Nations and other multilateral mechanisms, European and Asian countries have a lot to do together, he underscored. Europe and Asia should concert efforts in managing their common fortune 鈥�peace, security and health.

Furthermore, he said, despite their different historical backgrounds and varied cultural traditions, Europe and Asia should respect each other and, on this very basis to increase their exchanges and mutual understanding, learn from each other and enrich themselves in the course of dialogues and cooperation, the EU ambassador said. As so many important Asian and EU leaders could come and sit together to explore and seek solutions, they would be fully capable of setting forth valuable views and feasible ideas or proposals for the solution of prevalent thorny issues.

By People's Daily Online