FOURTH ASEM FOREIGN MINISTERS MEETING CHAIR STATEMENT MADRID, 6-7 JUNE 2002 1. The fourth ASEM Foreign Ministers' Meeting (ASEM FMM IV) was held in Madrid, Spain, on 6-7 June 2002. It was attended by Foreign Ministers from ten Asian and fifteen European states and the Commissioner for External Relations of the European Commission. The meeting was chaired by the Spanish Foreign Minister Josep Pique, acting also as the President of the Council of the European Union, who was accompanied by Javier Solana, High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy of the E.U. 2. Ministers held comprehensive and fruitful discussions on a range of issues of common interest, guided by the principles set by ASEM Summits, as outlined in the Asia-Europe Cooperation Framework. 3. Ministers endorsed the following recommendations submitted by Senior Officials after their meetings in Lanzarote (2-3 April 2002) and Madrid (5-6 June 2002) - the Guidelines to improve the ASEM working methods, annexed to this Chair Statement. - Philippines presented an outline of the ASEM Information Board, and ministers agreed that all ASEM relevant websites should be connected as a first step. A second phase, in which interactivity, as well as a closed system for communication among ASEM partners would be available, is currently being studied. - Ministers agreed that a common ASEM logo would be developed in time for next Foreign Ministers Meeting, through an ASEM wide competition organised by the Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF), for joint Asian and European teams. - Ministers reiterated their commitments to replenishing ASEF funds by 2003 and welcomed the establishment of a Working Group of ASEF Governors on Financial Sustainability, to develop proposals for long-term financial stability. They recommended that the Chair Statement of the forthcoming Summit in Copenhagen (ASEM 4) should urge partners to adopt the necessary measures to ensure ASEF's long-term financial sustainability before ASEM 5. 4. Ministers took note of the Chair Statements of the Ministerial Meetings held since the last Foreign Ministers' Meeting (FMM lID on 24-25 May 2001, namely the Economic Ministers Meeting (Hanoi, 10-11 September 2001) the Environment Ministers Meeting (Beijing, 17-18 January 2002) and the ASEM Ministerial Conference on Cooperation for the Management of Migratory Flows (Lanzarote, 4-5 April 2002), to be annexed to the Chair Statement. They noted that these meetings showed the vitality and the wide range of activities within the ASEM context. 5. Ministers echoed the view of the ASEM Environment Ministers Meeting, that the potential for cooperation between the two regions on regional and global environmental issues is huge. In this fight, Ministers noted with appreciation the contribution of the Asia Europe Environmental Technology Centre (AEETC) during its Pilot Phase, ending in October 2002, and agreed that its achievements would serve as valuable inputs for future cooperation of ASEM in this area. Ministers gave special recognition to the valuable work carried out by the AEETC in promoting public participation in environmental affairs and in the megacities project. In this connection, Ministers looked forward to the convening of another Environment Ministers Meeting, in 2003 in Italy, possibly preceded by an experts' meeting. 6. On the basis of the Lanzarote Declaration on Cooperation for the Management of Migratory Flows, Ministers discussed follow up actions on migration and stressed the importance of establishing effective cooperation on this matter. In that respect they endorsed a meeting between directors-general of migration, to be organised in 2002 by Denmark, co-sponsored by China and Spain. Prior establishment of a network of migration contact points would facilitate the preparation of this and further future meetings. 7. Ministers exchanged views on new initiatives proposed by partners and endorsed the following proposals, which will be considered as key ASEM initiatives for the Summit: - ASEM Seminar on Anti-terrorism, co-sponsored by China, Spain, Japan Denmark and Germany, - ASEM Workshop on the Future of Employment and the Quality of Labour, co-sponsored by Germany, Spain, Ireland and China, - ASEM Conference on Cultures and Civilisations, co-sponsored by China, Denmark, France, Singapore and Malaysia. Ministers took note of the following activities, which might be further developed within the context of the Asia-Europe Cooperation Framework: - Promotion of ASEM Tourism Cooperation for Hunger Eradication, Poverty Elimination and Enhancing Prosperity - ASEM Co-operation in Training and Technical Assistance in the Banking Sector - Promotion of the Exchange of Experiences in Planning and Implementing Fiscal Policies in ASEM - ASEM Dialogue on Building Market Systems in the Context of Globalisation - Information and Communication Technology Performance Reference Forum - ASEM e-Education Hub, and Asia-Europe Cooperation in Promoting Awareness in the Young Generation on the Drug Problem. Ministers appreciated the outcome of the Japanese ASEM initiative "ASEM and the Changing World Economy", co-sponsored by Spain. Ministers noted with appreciation an updated progress report on the ASEM DUO fellowship programme, circulated by Korea, and encouraged greater participation by partners in the programme. Ministers also endorsed the ASEM seminar on Water Resources Management, co-sponsored by China, France and Portugal as an official ASEM initiative. 8. Ministers exchanged views on the following issues of common interest: - globalisation and economic policies in the aftermath of 11 September, -the new international security situation: Ministers emphasised the leading role of the United Nations and the importance of international cooperation in combating international terrorism, which is interelated with other forms of transnational crime, such as drug trafficking, trafficking in persons, money laundering and arms smuggling. They expressed the view that the international community must adopt a comprehensive strategy against terrorism, which includes political, economic and cultural measures, while respecting the rule of law. Ministers stressed the need for Asia and Europe to step up cooperation mechanisms in the international fight against terrorism. They agreed that both sides should embark on concrete initiatives. In this context, Ministers broadly supported the proposal by Singapore that linkages between EUROPOL, ASEANAPOL and the law enforcement agencies of China, Japan and Korea should be established to facilitate intelligence sharing and cooperation, with particular emphasis on tackling terrorism and international organised crime. Ministers also supported the call for enhancing appropriate intelligence and information exchanges between the anti-terrorism coordination units of ASEM partners. Ministers agreed that the ASEM Anti-terrorism Seminar (to be held in China), sponsored by China, Germany, Spain, Denmark and Japan, after ASEM IV consider these proposals. Ministers took note of the priorities of the Portuguese Presidency of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe in the fight against terrorism. - transnational issues, such as migration, sustainable development and cultural exchanges, and - regional issues, including the Korean Peninsula, Afghanistan, the Middle East, and the India - Pakistan situation. 9. Ministers agreed on a political declaration on the India and Pakistan situation and on the Middle East, annexed to this Chair Statement. The Philippine delegation expressed its concern about the mention of a particular country concerning terrorism. Ministers welcomed the recent positive developments in the Union of Myanmar, in particular the release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, and looked forward to further positive and concrete steps towards national reconciliation. Ministers welcome the convening on June 10 in Kaboul of the Emergency Loya Jirga, which started ten years ago with the Rome process, according to the road map defined in the Bonn agreements. This represents a fundamental step towards the political reconstruction of Afghanistan, which has been supported and will continue to be, by the international community. They also expressed their appreciation for the role played by ALA Prime Minister Karzai and Special Representative of the UN Secretary General Brahimi for their strong commitment to implement the overall peace process. The importance of the accession to independence of East Timor was recognised. 10. Ministers discussed ASEM 4, to be held in Copenhagen on 22-24 September 2002. They welcomed the European concept paper, which will serve as a basis for further preparations. Ministers agreed to recommend that Leaders issue a declaration on the Korean Peninsula at ASEM 4, and took note of an initial draft text discussed at SOM level. 11. Ministers reverted to the issue of participation in ASEM, welcomed the interest in joining, expressed by various European and Asian states, in particular the ASEAN members Cambodia, Laos and the Union of Myanmar, and agreed to recommend to Leaders to take up the issue of enlargement, in accordance with AECF 2000, at the fifth Summit in Hanoi in 2004, to allow for consolidation of the ASEM process. 12. Ministers agreed to hold the fifth ASEM Foreign Ministers Meeting in an Asian country in 2003. Madrid, 7 June 2002