EU sets out ideas on boosting ties with Asia<\/p>\n
BRUSSELS (Reuter): The European Commission this week sets out
\nits shopping list for a March summit in Bangkok between the
\nEuropean Union and 10 Asian tiger economies that will focus on
\npolitics and improved trade.<\/p>\n
The contents of the list, to be finalized in Brussels on
\nTuesday, has been thrashed out ahead of time in consultation with
\nofficials from Brunei, China, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia,
\nPhilippines, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand and Vietnam.<\/p>\n
It is, in fact, a less than subtle attempt by the 15-nation
\nEuropean Union to harness its geriatric economies to the raw
\nenergy being generated by the 10 Asian countries.<\/p>\n
Included in its aspirations are strengthened political
\ncontacts at both bilateral and multi-national levels, greatly
\nenhanced trade and investment, promotion of human rights and
\ndemocracy, protection of the environment and cooperation in
\nregional security issues.<\/p>\n
\"The Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) will constitute one of the
\nmost important initiatives undertaken by the European Union and
\nits member states and 10 of the most dynamic countries in Asia,\"
\naccording to a background paper on the meeting prepared by the
\nCommission, the EU's executive body.<\/p>\n
\"The first ASEM should constitute a new milestone by allowing
\nthe participants to give impetus to the political will to
\nintensify political dialogue, strengthen trade and economic
\nrelations and reinforce cooperation in various fields between the
\ntwo regions,\" a draft statement from the Commission to the EU's
\nCouncil of Ministers says.<\/p>\n
\"This new partnership should be based on the promotion of
\npolitical dialogue, the deepening of economic relations and the
\nreinforcement of cooperation in various fields,\" it adds.<\/p>\n
All the participants in the Bangkok summit on March 1 and 2
\nhave been at pains to ensure that the meeting stresses the
\npositive -- politics, trade and economics -- and skates
\ncautiously over the more contentious issues such as human rights,
\ndemocracy and social protection.<\/p>\n
\"In the eyes of the Asian participants, the declared aim of
\nASEM is to reinforce the weak link in the triangle of relations
\nbetween Asia, North America and Europe,\" the Commission's draft
\nto the Council of Ministers says.<\/p>\n
\"The Asian participants thereby hope that Europe will pay much
\ngreater attention to, and have greater presence in Asia so as to
\nbalance their relations with other partners.\"<\/p>\n
The political section of the Bangkok summit will emphasize
\nsupport for the World Trade Organization, reform of the United
\nNations, nuclear non-proliferation and cooperation in security
\nand the settlement of regional disputes.<\/p>\n
The economic section will stress the need to wrap up a global
\npackage on liberalizing telecommunications networks and maritime
\ntransport -- two items left over from the Uruguay Round of talks
\nunder the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade.<\/p>\n
It will also urge the adoption of global rules for foreign
\ninvestments and reinforced cooperation on rules for financial
\nservices.<\/p>\n
Asia as a whole is the EU's largest trading partner,
\naccounting for 23.2 percent of the bloc's external trade in 1994,
\nand its economies are growing rapidly.<\/p>\n
Even six weeks before the meeting there is agreement that it
\nwill be followed by working groups and ministerial level
\ngatherings, with a second summit tentatively proposed to take
\nplace in Britain in the first half of 1998.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/eu-sets-out-ideas-on-boosting-ties-with-asia-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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