ASEM takes off<\/p>\n
The foundation for greater Asia-Europe cooperation has been
\nestablished. The leaders from 10 Asian and 15 European Union
\ncountries, who concluded their first summit meeting between the
\ntwo regions in Bangkok over the weekend, should be commended for
\ninitiating the new forum. Credit must also be given to the host
\ncountry, Thailand, whose diplomatic skills contributed greatly to
\nthe success of the first Asia-Europe meeting (Asem).<\/p>\n
Given the widely differing conditions of the seven
\nparticipating ASEAN members, Japan, South Korea and China as well
\nas the 15 European Union members, the smoothness of the summit
\nproceedings is in itself a great achievement. Despite the name of
\nthe meeting, it was not the gathering of two parties but of 25
\nsovereign nations in different stages of economic development and
\nwith varying political aspirations. Even the members of an
\neconomically-integrated European Union do not always share a
\ncommon position on all issues.<\/p>\n
The success of the summit might be attributable to the
\nwillingness of the leaders to sideline the potentially
\ncontentious issues and limit their discussions to mutually
\nbeneficial economic cooperation in the areas of trade and
\ninvestment. More intensive political dialog can be phased in when
\nthe process matures and the participants have developed a
\nstronger rapport. A follow-up mechanism that is not too
\nbureaucratic or rigid has already been set up.<\/p>\n
The chairman of the meeting, Thailand's Prime Minister Banharn
\nSilpa-archa, stated the basic principles of dialog to be mutual
\nrespect, equality, promotion of fundamental rights in accordance
\nwith the rules of international laws and regulations and non-
\nintervention. We agree that these principles will be most
\neffective in ensuring more meaningful dialog among the 25
\ncountries.<\/p>\n
By focusing on broad economic issues, the meeting addressed
\nthe most common interests of all participating countries. The
\nleaders avoided outlining specific, detailed programs, which are
\nsubject to competing interests, and discussed the establishment
\nof a market economy, an open multilateral trading system, non-
\ndiscriminatory liberalization and open regionalism.<\/p>\n
The leaders will gather every two years -- Britain will hold
\nthe second in 1998 and South Korea the third in 2000 -- while
\ntheir senior officials and ministers will meet between summits.<\/p>\n
Encouraging also were the concrete measures agreed upon to set
\nthe process in motion. An Asia-Europe Business Forum, scheduled
\nfor this year, the drafting of an investment promotion plan and a
\nmeeting of economic ministers next year are all realistic steps
\ntowards the forging of strategic economic linkages between the
\ntwo continents.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/asem-takes-off-1447899208",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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