COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 
Brussels, 16.01.1996 
COM(96) 4 final 
COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION 
TO THE COUNCIL AND THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT 
Regarding the Asia Europe Meeting (ASEM) 
to be held in Bangkok on 12 March 1996 

Communication of the Commission to Council and Parliament 
Regarding the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM)1 
to be held in Bangkok on 1-2 March 1996 
1) Introduction 
The broad political guidelines for the Union's participation in the forthcoming Asia-
Europe Meeting (ASEM) have already been established by the European Council. 
Detailed discussions at Senior Official level have likewise outlined the practical 
content of the topics to be considered. Building on this context, the present 
Communication is intended to outline some of the practical measures and follow-up 
actions which should be considered in Bangkok, in order to help ensure that this 
historic step towards a strengthening of the Europe-Asia partnership can be 
effectively and speedily translated into concrete and mutually-beneficial progress. 
2) Background 
This first Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) is a historic initiative, aimed at establishing a 
new partnership between Europe and Asia. It is foreseen that this new partnership 
should be based on the promotion of political dialogue, the deepening of economic 
relations and the reinforcement of cooperation, and should contribute to the global 
development of societies in both Asia and Europe. 
This initiative is a recent one. It builds on the call within Europe for a new strategic 
approach towards Asia, reflecting the increased economic and political significance 
of the rapidly-growing Asian economies in a changing world. This was outlined by the 
European Commission in its Communication of July 1994 "Towards a New Asian 
Strategy", and endorsed in subsequent months by the European Council and the 
European Parliament. It became concrete with the initiative of Singapore, in autumn 
1994, to propose a summit meeting of Asian and European leaders. This was 
endorsed subsequently by ASEAN, and in June 1995 by the European Council 
meeting at Cannes. 
The first ASEM meeting will however build on a long-standing dialogue between 
Europe and Asia, which over the years has already matured into a substantive 
process of individual dialogues linking the European Union with ASEAN, with China, 
Japan and Korea, and with the major countries of South Asia. Our dialogue with 
ASEAN dates back to the late 1970s, with a first Ministerial Meeting in 1978 (plus 
contacts between the European Parliament and AIPO), and with the signature of the 
Participants: EU Member States, (+ Commission), Japan, Korea, China, Asean countries 
(Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam) 
Council Report to the European Council in Madrid concerning the Europe-Asia Meeting 
(12402/95, 5 December 1995) 
Towards a New Asia Strategy, COM (94) 314, 13 July 1994 
P- !flL 
EC-ASEAN Framework Cooperation Agreement in 1980, foreseeing regular 
meetings at various levels. The Community and its Member States have likewise 
taken part in the ASEAN PMC meetings since their inception, and since 1994 in the 
newly-established ASEAN Regional Forum. The dialogue with the countries of South 
Asia likewise dales back to the early 1980s, and has also been strengthened in 
recent years with the inclusion of a political element in the dialogue process, for 
example with India and Sri Lanka. A high-level dialogue process has likewise been 
established with Japan (with regular ministerial meetings dating back to the late 
1970s), as we!! as with China and Korea; most recently, EU relations with Japan and 
China were the subject of Commission Communications in May 1995 and December 
1995 respectively, while a Framework Agreement with Korea will be initialed by the 
two sides in the coming weeks. 
These various dialogues have tended to be dominated by economic concerns. Asia 
as a whole is after all the largest trading partner of the Union, accounting in 1994 for 
23.2% of the Union's total external trade. The rapid and sustained growth of the 
Asian economies, and their increasing weight in world trade and investment flows, 
made it essentia! however to reflect this economic relationship in our political 
dialogue also. This process is already underway in our dialogue with individual 
countries and regional groups in Asia, but must be further strengthened, and given a 
full impetus towards an effective partnership, through the opportunities offered by the 
first ASEM meeting. 
The ASEM meeting should also be seen in its broader geographical context. At the 
global level, it provides both European and Asian partners with an opportunity to 
build furthcer on ongoing global dialogues (in the context both of the UN and of 
WTO) within a specific inter-regional context. For the European side, our intensifying 
relationship with Asia will provide an important and timely complement to our existing 
inter-regional relations with other important partners. For Asia likewise, a stronger 
European partnership will provide a welcome complement to the Asia-Pacific 
partnership strengthened in particular with the establishment of APEC in 1993. 
This first ASEM meeting will have a limited participation, though both sides have 
agreed that it should be evolutionary in character, and it is hoped that this meeting 
will be the first in a series. 
To ensure the success of this first meeting, however, it is necessary to consider what 
might be the detailed follow-up which can be given in each of the main fields of 
political dialogue, economic and commercial relations, and cooperation. These 
elements are discussed below. 
p.2 
3) Preliminary Position of the Asian Participants 
Despite the differences in their political/social systems and structures and in their 
level of economic development, the ten Asian countries participating in ASEM have a 
common position as regards the goal and approach to be taken in the Europe-Asia 
meeting. In the eyes of the Asian participants, the declared aim of ASEM is to 
reinforce the weak link in the triangle of relations between Asia, North America and 
Europe. The Asian participants thereby hope that Europe will pay much greater 
attention to, and have a greater presence in Asia so as to balance their relations with 
other partners. The reinforcement of the Europe-Asia link also corresponds to the 
wish of the Asian countries henceforth to play a more active role in world affairs, in 
line with their growing economic weight. 
The ten Asian countries also easily adopted a common position concerning the 
approach to the preparation and conduct of the meeting. Leaving aside the informal 
character of the meeting, to which the European Union has agreed in principle, the 
common Asian position in the run-up to the meeting stresses points of agreement or 
convergence of opinion, rather than points of divergence or friction. This said, the 
Asian countries nevertheless tackle some sensitive points such as human rights, 
while hoping that the discussion of these sensitive issues does not overshadow the 
other issues, thereby compromising the atmosphere of the meeting. 
Beyond their common position on the goal and approach of the meeting, the ten 
countries do not all attach the same importance to the political themes that were 
included on the agenda on the request of the European Union. It seems that they are 
all favorable to a reinforcement of the political dialogue between Europe and Asia, 
and wish for cooperation and a search for a concordance of views between the two 
continents in international fora and for the establishment of confidence-building 
measures so as to contribute to the stability of Asia and Europe. 
Concerning trade and economic issues, the Asian countries pursue very similar 
objectives to those of the European Union, as they wish to promote an open 
multilateral trading system, to facilitate commercial exchanges and the conditions of 
investment, as well as to cooperate on infrastructure, science and technology, the 
protection of the environment, and human resources. 
There is already a consensus among the Asian countries to foresee a second 
meeting at the level of Heads of State and of Government in two or three years. In 
the meantime, the Asian countries will probably give their agreement that- high-level 
officials be given the task of exploring appropriate means of following-up on certain 
themes of the meeting, such as facilitating the conditions of trade and investment. 
The Asian countries will probably also confirm their agreement to the establishment 
of closer contacts between businessmen. 
p.3 
4) Preliminary position of the European Union 
Following the advice of the Council of Ministers, the European Council has accepted 
both the principle and the meeting format suggested by ASEAN (an informal meeting 
at head of state or government level, with a very general agenda), and has left the 
choice of the Asian participants to the ASEAN side. From the beginning, however, it 
has been clear that on the European side our participation would be as the 
Community and its Member States. 
One key starting-point for the discussions is the New Asian Strategy proposed by the 
Commission in July 1994 and endorsed by the European Council in Essen in 
December 1994. This has also served as a major input for the Asian participants, 
taking account also of elements proposed by the business sector, notably through 
the World Economic Forum meetings organised in Singapore. 
Reflecting the novelty of this dialogue between the Union and a very large and 
diversified region, as well as the level of participation at the meeting, it is clear that 
the meeting will be both informal in character and comprehensive in scope. The 
agenda will necessarily include all aspects of relations between the two regions, both 
multilateral and bilateral, ranging from economic and trade elements through to 
political aspects including security, and including also culture and cooperation. 
The first ASEM should constitute a new milestone by allowing the participants to give 
impetus to the political will to intensify political dialogue, strengthen trade and 
economic relations and reinforce co-operation in various fields between the two 
regions, and lay a firm foundation for a new partnership on equal footing. 
In the position paper endorsed by the Madrid European Council in mid December 
1995, the Union has listed a range of specific issues for discussion, and has made 
certain proposals for possible follow-up actions after the ASEM. 
In the political field, the Union is ready to promote pofitical dialogue, dialogue on the 
values and codes that govern societies on both continents and co-operation aiming 
at the consolidation of political stabifity and international security in a broad sense, 
and at the improvement of mutual understanding in all areas. It stresses that human 
rights, the rule of law and good governance play a key role in furthering harmonious 
social development. Concretely, the Union foresees that Senior Officials may explore 
the possibilities for co-operation by identifying common ground on the different 
discussed political issues. 
In the field of economic and trade relations, the Union is willing to strengthen the 
links between Europe and Asia in order to develop its economic presence in Asia as 
weft as to encourage Asia's interest in Europe. 
At a moment when both Europe and Asia partners are involved in their respective 
regional links, the Union expects that ASEM shall reaffirm the curnmitment of al! to 
the principles of the WTO on multilateralism. For the European Union, ASEM should 
M 
stress the need for a successful conclusion of unfinished negotiations in the 
framework of the Uruguay Round, and support further moves towards the 
liberalisation of international trade. 
The Union envisages the possibility for participants of ASEM to instruct their senior 
officials to identify measures that could facilitate trade and investment conditions 
between both regions. The Union considers that ASEM should also encourage the 
intensification of business contacts and technology cross flows. 
Finally, the Union is of the opinion that the ASEM should promote co-operation in 
various fields, especially in human resource development, in environment and 
biodiversity, in industrial cooperation, in development cooperation and poverty 
alleviation in the poorest countries, and in cultural exchange facilitating mutual 
understanding. 
For all the above fields, it will be important that appropriate informal arrangements 
are put in place for reviewing and following-up on progress achieved, so that the 
impetus given by this first ASEM meeting is drawn upon to the full. 
5) Content of the dialogue and possible areas of convergence 
This first ASEM carries much expectation. Both sides hope it can expand the Euro-
Asian dialogue, reinforcing co-operation on many fronts, acting as a catalyst for the 
strengthening of bilateral and multilateral instruments. A broad range of issues for 
the Meeting have been identified. 
5a) Promotion of political dialogue 
The increasing weight of Asia in the world economy should reinforce the political 
weight of this region on the international political scene. This will contribute to a 
world of multipolarity, in which one should not forget South Asia. ASEM should 
welcome and encourage efforts by Asian countries to engage themselves more in 
the management of international affairs by enhancing a broader Euro-Asia political 
dialogue, exploring areas and possible issues of cooperation in international fora and 
by promoting peace and stability in both regions and globally. 
'Reinforcement of political dialogue: 
ASEM should provide a stimulus to the existing process of political dialogue between 
the EU and its regional or country partners. In principle, the EU should maintain and 
intensify the present political dialogue with its different Asian dialogue partners. But 
this approach can be combined with the possibility of holding political dialogue on the 
regional level on specific issues of interest to both regions. In the future, more effort 
should be given to developing the political dialogue at expert level with a view to 
p.5 
deepening the dialogue and making it more operational in dealing with concrete 
issues such as reform of the United Nations, prevention and management of local 
conflicts, non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, arms and sensitive 
technologies controls and nuclear security. 
Consultation and cooperation in institutional fora 
ASEM participants could instruct senior officials to explore the possibilities of 
concertation and cooperation by identifying common interests on various issues in 
international organisations and fora. Such concertation or cooperation could include 
a series of issues ranging from peacekeeping and peacemaking to negotiation of 
international conventions on arms control, implementation of the existing ones, 
promotion of non-proliferation regimes and the problem of antipersonnel mines. On 
this last point, ASEM could for example envisage action in the field of mine-
clearance in Cambodia. 
ASEM could likewise encourage, wherever possible, joint initiatives between EU and 
Asian countries. Through such joint initiatives, Europe and Asia will better 
understand each other's positions and ways of thinking. 
Dialogue on values and codes 
The ASEM should encourage an open and frank dialogue on the values and codes 
that govern societies on both continents, bearing in mind the different cultural and 
social backgrounds. The two sides should likewise be attentive to possibilities of 
enhancing positive cooperation in favor of respect of democracy, human rights and 
the rule of law as requested by the Council in the Union position paper. 
ARF process 
ASEM should encourage the development of the ARF process, thus contributing to 
stability and security in the Asian region and helping guarantee continuing economic 
growth and social development. The EU should involve itself further in the ARF 
process through a consistent participation and a more active involvement in both 
formal and non-governmental activities. 
Within the ARF process, the Union should encourage intensified and more regular 
contacts and exchanges of views between Institutes of international strategic studies 
of both continents. The Union should also study means of actively participating in 
actions in the field of confidence building in the Asian region, in addition to sharing 
our respective experiences of CBMs in both regions. 
5b) Reinforcement Of Economic Co-Operation 
There is a very wide range of general economic questions which could be discussed 
at ASEM. 
On economic cooperation, trade and investment are important elements in the 
European Union's relations with all participating ASEM countries. The existing 
bilateral channels would be used for the implementation of the results of ASEM, with 
ASEM itself primarily being seen as a means to politically invigorate economic ties. 
p.6 
ASEM should make a strong pledge for multilateralism and open regionalism. An 
informal Senior Officials' Meeting on Trade and Investment Facilitation should meet 
before the summer of 1996 to initiate a dialogue on WTO issues which would help to 
prepare the ground for the discussion needed in the WTO itself, in preparation for 
the Singapore Ministerial in December. This dialogue should aim to commit 
participants to the completion of the Uruguay Round and to its expedited 
implementation. 
Priority areas would include : 
a basic telecommunications agreement including the procurement of 
telecommunications equipment, which would secure market access and 
national treatment as well as balanced and effective regulatory frameworks; 
liberalisation and further integration of the maritime sector; 
reinforcement of the interim financial services agreement, which should also 
be made permanent. 
The Senior Officials should also try to reach convergence of views on the future work 
programme of the WTO. In addition to the outstanding business listed above and the 
so-called "built-in agenda" to which all agreed at Marrakech, there are old and new 
issues which require fresh attention. Of the new issues, the priorities for the EU are 
trade and environment policy, trade and investment policy, trade and competition 
policy and labour standards. For example, the dialogue on investment policy should 
help lay the foundation for a multilateral investment agreement in the WTO. 
The Senior Officials' should also suggest additional measures that could facilitate 
trade and investment among participants. Such measures could include customs 
cooperation with a view to the simplification of customs procedures, cooperation on 
standards, improved transparency on trade and investment rules and in public sector 
tender notices, simplification of administrative procedures relating to FDI, etc. 
Facilitation could also be promoted through industrial training programmes, 
economic cooperation projects and technical assistance. The EU should make clear 
its readiness to compare notes on the challenges of economic integration, 
deregulation and the creation of open and competitive market. 
The recommendations of the Senior Officials would be followed up through the 
normal bilateral channels between the EU and the participating Asian countries. 
It would also be desirable if the Senior Officials could draw in their work upon the 
advice and support of the private sector. It would be particularly useful to find out 
more on how small and medium-sized business could be helped. It is however 
difficult to create a comprehensive and representative forum of this kind for this 
heterogeneous group of countries. ASEM will initially have to build upon existing 
bilateral and national business fora, even if over time an umbrella group should be 
formed for business dialogue with participating Asian countries. 
The Commission will in 1996 be organising a number of important business-to-
business contacts linking Europe and Asia. 
p.7 
5c) Promotion of cooperation in various fields 
Environment 
Common objectives and active cooperation are required in the fight against 
environmental degradation. The challenge of environmentally-sound development 
includes the definition of policies, approaches and management plans to define and 
achieve the optimal balance between development and conservation, economy and 
ecology, and human and physical environment. 
Rapid growth in Europe and Asia has given rise to growing environmental concerns, 
and ASEM could help in the identification of common objectives and more effective 
cooperation in this sector. A considerable and diverse experience has already been 
accumulated in Europe and Asia on these issues, and taking advantage of ASEM's 
composition, the EU, Japan and Korea could share experiences with the other 
participating countries. Cooperation in specific projects could be envisaged, while 
follow-up could also build upon the Commission's existing cooperation network on 
environment with the ASEM participants . 
Human resources 
Human resource development pîays a crucial role for sustainable economic growth 
and social development. Focusing and strengthening efforts already being made in 
the key field of primary education should be identified as a priority. Especially 
important is ensuring equal access to schooling for all levels of society. Joint 
initiatives in order to promote such objectives could be envisaged. 
Cooperation in education and training between Asia and Europe should also be 
developed, with a special attention being given to actions such as the exchange of 
educational experience and vocational training. Centers or programmes specialising 
in European Studies (in Asia) or Asian Studies (in Europe) should be promoted. 
ASEM could express support for the two-way development of scholarship and 
university exchange programmes, taking into account projects already established 
under our economic cooperation programme. 
Co-operation among private-sector operators (for example in the exchange of 
executives) and research institutions, joint projects on research and development, 
and exchanges of experience either through exchange of researchers or at the 
administrative level shall help European companies enter the highly competitive 
Asian market and review investment possibilities with a more informed eye. 
Reflections on the best ways to develop these programmes could usefully be 
discussed between the ASEM members in an ad hoc framework with private sector 
participation. 
The Commission already has a framework of bilateral environmental eo-operation with all 
ASEM participants, either through an administrative arrangement (Japan), or through the 
Trade and Cooperation Agreements (ASEAN, Korea, China) 
p.X 
From the viewpoint of the private sector, the diverse economic situation in Asia would 
suggest that a diversified approach could be preferable. It is clear that European 
private operators tend to distinguish three key country groups in Asia, and to have 
differentiated strategies for each group. These include the industrialised countries 
and economies (such as Japan, Korea and Taiwan), the advanced developing 
countries (such as Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines), together with 
the largest developing countries (China and India), and thirdly the poorer developing 
countries such as Vietnam and Bangladesh. The Asian participants of ASEM cross 
the lines between these three groups, particularly when one takes into account the 
recent enlargement of ASEAN to include Vietnam, and its possible future 
enlargement to other countries in South-East Asia 
Science and technology cross-flows 
The Meeting should acknowledge the importance of small and medium enterprises in 
this sector, and recommend to participants the establishment of joint programmes 
aimed at facilitating investment and technology linkages among SME's. This point 
has already been clearly stressed in Asian and European preparation for the 
Meeting, and current EC programmes for support to SME linkages need 
reinforcement and a greater Asian involvement in order to bring the expected 
benefits. 
Industrial cooperation 
Industrial cooperation could make an irnportant contribution to mutual trust and 
understanding on a long-term basis between Asian and European economies, 
avoiding trade friction and obstacles due to cultural diversity. ASEM could therefore 
encourage the development of a number of bilateral industrial cooperation activities 
adapted to each sector and to each country (e.g. business meetings, set-up of 
training programmes for students and engineers in industrial companies in Asia for 
Europeans and vice versa ...). In particular, the meeting could acknowledge the 
importance of cooperation in current efforts to achieve the Global Information 
Society. The meeting could give input to the G7 'Information Society Conference' 
with Developing Countries in May 96 in South-Africa. 
Special attention should also be given to transport. Efficient transport links play a 
major role in the development of trade. ASEM should promote cooperation aimed at 
improving transport links both between Europe and Asia and within the region. 
Particular attention should be given, in this context, to transfer of technology to the 
poorer countries in the region, so as to promote more energy-efficient and 
environmentally sustainable transport. Cooperation in ASEM could encourage 
cooperation on maritime safety and environmental issues, traffic management based 
on Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS), air transport and the development of 
new transport links between Europe and Asia. 
Cultural contacts 
Both sides agree on the need to build bridges between their civil societies, especially 
as regards the importance of the establishment of a parliamentary dialogue at the 
Asia-Europe level and the participation of the private sector. This is a major 
challenge in our drive to overcome existing gaps in communication, understanding 
and cultural dialogue. A strengthened mutual awareness of European and Asian 
cultural perspectives will be a key supporting element in strengthening our two-way 
political and economic linkages. 
p.9 
The Europe-Asia Forum in Venice on January 18-19 focusing on a better 
understanding of Asian culture will provide a valuable precedent in this respect, and 
initiatives from the Asian side would be welcome. 
Cooperation in development 
Many participants, including the Community and its Member States, already have 
substantial and long-standing programmes in this area, the value of which the 
Summit may wish to recognise, while confirming also the continuing importance of 
working together to assist in a smooth integration of the poorest countries of Asia, 
and the poorest regions of the richer countries, within the economic and social 
progress of the region as a whole. Special emphasis could be given to continued 
efforts to support the transition to market economy already started in several Asian 
countries with strong support from the Union. 
Among the key objectives of development co-operation which the Meeting could 
endorse would be : 
a focus on the poorest countries of the region and on the least favored 
groups in society; 
helping to improve the incomes and living conditions of the most 
disadvantaged groups, in a sustainable and replicable manner paying due 
attention to environmental and resource-management considerations; 
helping these disadvantaged groups to play a more active role in the 
planning, implementation and evaluation of their own development strategies, 
through strengthened participation and empowerment; 
helping ensure that women are permitted and enabled to play their full role in 
the development process, and that major social issues such as population, 
health and education are given adequate policy and resource support; 
ASEM could in this context provide a useful forum to support joint initiatives in 
development projects in the less advanced participating countries through common 
reflection, coordinated actions and/or burden sharing. It is clear, however, that the 
launching of projects should be left at the discretion of each participant. 
6) Future perspectives 
It is evident that this first ASEM meeting should not be a unique event, nor one 
without practical and concrete follow-up. With regard to the next steps which will 
require to be taken on both sides, certain key points already seem clear. In 
particular, one can note : 
the need to maintain and strengthen a framework of political dialogue, over 
and above the urgent and important themes which can be treated within an 
economic dialogue; 
p. 10 
the need to reinforce the multilateral context of these twin dialogues, and to 
strengthen the role of the relevant international institutions; 
the parallel need to ensure that the intensified dialogue between Europe and 
Asia will strengthen, rather than displace, the existing dialogues at both 
bilateral and sub-regional level. 
In general, it is evident that the follow-up to ASEM should be pragmatic and flexible. 
Due account should be taken of existing institutional frameworks as well as 
multilateral fora. In this context, however, there are clearly various options available 
as regards the way ahead which will need to be addressed in the light of the 
outcome of the Bangkok ASEM. There seems to be consensus that the first ASEM 
should not be a one-off event. One Member-State has offered to host the next ASEM 
during its Presidency in the first half of 1998. 
Further thought should be given to how the next ASEM should be prepared and 
organised, as well as to how the participants should be selected. The most difficult 
issue will be how to ensure continuity and effectiveness without ASEM becoming 
bureaucratic or rigid. The Commission will revert to the Council on these matters in 
due course. 
p.n 
7) Contusions 
Asia and Europe have shared interests in terms of politics and security, both globally 
and regionally; an intensified cooperation and sharing of experience between the two 
regions will serve the common interests of both. Asia and Europe likewise have 
shared interests in the effective functioning of the global economy, and of the new 
multilateral trade order established in Marrakech; the support of like-minded regional 
groups as well as of individual countries is essential for the full potential of the WTO 
to be realised. ASEM will thus provide an ideal forum for Asia and Europe to 
exchange views at the highest level, to assess the status of our general dialogue, 
and to provide further guidance and impetus to the development of this dialogue at 
different levels. 
At the same time, the diversity of Asia will certainly call for a deeper dialogue 
between the European Union and the different parts of the larger Asian area, both 
with its regional and sub-regional groupings (which we should support), and with the 
individual countries. The characteristics of each of these dialogues will necessarily 
be based on the particularities of each country and regional group, as well as on the 
evolving interest of our partners in strengthening their relations with the Union. 
These dialogues already exist with practically all the countries of Asia, each with their 
particular framework, and often institutionalised in the form of a more or less 
advanced cooperation agreement. They need further strengthening, and the 
Commission is willing to make detailed proposals in this sense, within the context of 
the general guidelines and impetus which will be given by the ASEM meeting. 
Looking to the future, it would wrong to foresee any premature institutionalisation of 
the dialogue framework being established through this first ASEM meeting. 
Nevertheless, one should consider how this initial historic impetus may best be 
maintained. In this regard, it is possible that participants at the first ASEM should 
consider calling for a second meeting at the level of heads of state or government to 
be held in two or three years' time (preceded perhaps by a meeting at ministerial 
level to report on progress), and in the meantime calling for the early convening of a 
Senior Officials' Meeting to assist both sides in preparing for the forthcoming WTO 
Ministerial and its follow-up. 
To ensure that the Asia-Europe dialogue thus established can achieve its full 
potential, it will also be essential to broaden the dialogue beyond the government 
level. On the one hand, it is important that civil society can play its part, and in this 
regard the establishment of a parliamentary dialogue at the Asia-Europe level will be 
essential (building on the existing parliamentary dialogues at sub-regional levels). 
The private sector also should be encouraged to play its full part in the dialogue, and 
an Asia-Europe meeting of business leaders could also be envisaged. 
In conclusion, the Commission is convinced of the historical importance of the 
forthcoming ASEM meeting, and is convinced likewise that this meeting should not 
be seen in isolation, but as the formal and mutual recognition by all participants that 
Europe and Asia must meet on an equal footing of partnership and of genuine 
dialogue. 
p. 12 

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