Brussels, 13/06/2005 (Agence Europe) - ASEM culture ministers and UNESCO leaders closed the second “Europe-Asia Dialogue” on cultural diversity held on 7-8 June in Paris. They expressed their desire to continue to promote “unity in diversity” on the two continents. In their final declaration, delegations underlined, “that distrust and ignorance between cultures and civilisations could be a source of tension that threatens world peace”. Participants also decided to set up a 15-point action plan to encourage cultural events and exhibitions between Asian and European countries and facilitate development of coproduction and cooperation between theatres, art centres, museums and publishers. Projects will involve sustainable and responsible tourism, which were also discussed, as well as UNESCO's Convention on cultural diversity, which is expected to be adopted in October. Ministers were pleased with UNESCO's results of 3 June (EUROPE 8965). Koichiro Matasurra, UNESCO Director General said that it would be regrettable if countries having set out their positions on certain key clauses of the convention chose to not sign up to the convention indefinitely. He said that the convention was crucial for cultural diversity. According to the AFP around ten countries, including the USA, Australia, New Zealand, Israel and Argentina rejected the principle of non-subordination of the future UNESCO convention to the World Trade Organisation, whereas the remaining 140 delegations approved the principle of cultural goods not simply being regarded as merchandise subject to WTO laws.