Brussels, 30/10/2012 (Agence Europe) - The capital city of what will soon become the 158th member country of the WTO, Ventiane, will play host on 5 and 6 November to the bi-annual meeting of the Heads and State and Government of the 46 countries of the Asia-Europe Forum, to be joined by the European Commission and the secretariat of ASEAN.
On the theme “Friendship for peace, partnership for prosperity”, the Ventiane Summit aims to reinforce the role of ASEM as a driving force behind peace, security and stability between the two regions. In this regard, their leaders are expected to adopt a declaration on reinforcing the Asia-European partnership for peace and development. The accession, scheduled for 5 November, of three new countries to the Asia-Europe dialogue for its fourth wave of enlargement, Bangladesh, Norway and Switzerland, will increase the potential of Euro-Asian cooperation still further.
Four working sessions will dominate the summit's agenda. The first will be given over to economic and financial issues. The European side will take stock of its most recent work to ease tension on the financial markets, re-establish confidence and boost growth and employment, and will lay emphasis on the need for Asia also to work to promote global financial stability. The reform of the international financial institutions and the fight against protectionism will also be discussed. The second plenary session will stress global problems, including the fight against terrorism, piracy on the seas and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, but also energy security, water resource management and food security. The EU will reaffirm its commitment given the challenge of climate change. The third session will be devoted to regional issues, including security in the Korean peninsular, the Iranian nuclear issue and the worsening situation in Syria, but also recent developments in Burma/Myanmar, maritime security in Asia and the regional integration process in Asia. Lastly, the fourth working session will focus on social and cultural cooperation, exchanges between the people, promoting human rights, education, cultural cooperation and migration. (EH/transl.fl)