Brussels/Hanoi, 11/09/2001 (Agence Europe) - After the 3rd Asia Europe meeting of Economic Ministers, a joint declaration was signed in Hanoi by the EU Ministers and their ASEM counterparts in which they support the launch of a new trade round in Doha. Eight weeks before the next WTO Summit, Commissioner Pascal Lamy hoped to build upon a common approach and narrow differences ahead of Doha. He felt that the active support of countries in Asia would be vital if the next trade round were to be made a success. The ASEM meeting that finished that day was probably the last opportunity for the EU/ASEM representatives, who have enormous interests globally, to "develop common interests and narrow differences in the approach to a new WTO Round in Doha", Mr Lamy told his counterparts (from Japan, China, South Korea, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei), adding that since Seattle, the EU position had considerably evolved. "Although the EU remains firmly committed to a comprehensive round, proposals being made to attain this objective are now much more flexible and aimed at addressing the concerns of developing countries", said Mr Lamy (see yesterday's EUROPE, p.13). After discussions with the Kuala Lumpur delegation, Mr Lamy explained that the doubts expressed by countries such as Malaysia on issues like competition were subjects that the EU was promoting, but he felt that they were not yet in a position to respond to Malaysia's queries. Mr Lamy hoped a "more focussed, action-oriented economic agenda on trade and investment" could be developed, and ways examined to "complement our dialogue by better involving other societal actors". ASEM was initially created "top-down", explained Mr Lamy, but "given the more mature state of the dialogue process, the "bottom-up" approach should be given greater importance and weight. The best way to achieve this is involvement - of parliamentarians, business, NGOs. All sectors of society should be invited to contribute their ideas to the process, through the implementation of civil society-type initiatives", he added.