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Seventh Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM)
The Overview of the Seventh Foreign Ministers' Meeting

May 2005

1. Overview

(1) The Seventh Foreign Ministers' Meeting (FMM7) of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) was held in Kyoto on May 6-7, 2005. The meeting was attended by the foreign ministers or their representatives of 13 countries from Asia (Japan, People's Republic of China (PRC), Republic of Korea (ROK) and 10 member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)) and 25 member states of the European Union (EU) as well as the European Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighborhood Policy. From Japan, Minister for Foreign Affairs Nobutaka Machimura attended and chaired the meeting. This was the first ministerial-level meeting since ASEM enlarged in October 2004 and became a forum, which accounts for about 40% of the population, 50% of gross domestic product (GDP) and 60% of trade in today's world.
(2) The ministers discussed measures for Asia and Europe to deepen dialogue and cooperation through ASEM on global challenges that the international community faces, such as strengthening multilateralism, sustainable development and dialogue among cultures and civilizations. The discussion was summarized in the Chairman's Statement. The ministers decided to advance dialogue and concrete cooperation under the "Asia-Europe Partnership to Tackle Global Challenges," toward the Sixth ASEM Summit Meeting (ASEM6) scheduled for September 2006.

2. Achievements

(1) Political area

(a) Regarding reform of the United Nations (UN), the ministers held comprehensive and intensive discussions on various issues referred in the Secretary-General's report such as development, Peace-building Commission, human rights and Security Council reform. The ministers concurred on the need to make utmost efforts to ensure the success of the summit meeting on the Millennium Declaration in September.
(b) The ministers also discussed security threats and challenges such as weapons of mass destruction (WMD), terrorism, transnational organized crimes and maritime safety. As for the regional issues, the ministers one after another expressed their views to urge North Korea to return to the Six-Party Talks without any further delay to achieve the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. The ministers also recognized the importance of resolving the nuclear issue and other concerns including abductions. Regarding Myanmar, a number of European partners raised the issues of democratization and human rights, while Myanmar gave a briefing on the recent efforts aimed at democratization. The ministers also exchanged views on the Middle East peace process and Iraq.

(2) Economic, cultural and other areas

(a) Striking a balance between the environment and economy: The ministers welcomed the entry into force of the Kyoto Protocol and called for its steady implementation. The ministers reaffirmed the need to make a universal effort by both developed and developing countries toward the post-2012 framework to address global warming. The ministers also stressed the need to strike a balance between the environment and economy utilizing science and technology, and to build a sound material-cycle society based on the 3R (reduce, reuse, recycle) principle. The ministers expressed concern over the impact of rising oil prices, and their interest in improving energy efficiency, energy conservation and using alternative energy sources. The ministers demonstrated their resolve to deepen dialogue on energy issues at ASEM.
(b) Development: The ministers concurred to advance dialogue and cooperation between Asia and Europe to achieve the MDGs, building on Asia's development and growth experience as a reference. In light of the response to the tsunami disaster in the Indian Ocean and countermeasures against infectious diseases, the ministers also recognized the importance of protecting and empowering individuals.
(c) Trade and investment: The ministers stressed the importance of political will aimed at the conclusion of the World Trade Organization (WTO) Doha Development Agenda negotiations.
(d) Cultural diversity: The ministers stressed the importance of deepening mutual understanding between Asia and Europe through dialogue among cultures and civilizations and people-to-people exchanges. The ministers expressed their strong expectation for ASEM to engage in activities and meetings in this area, including coordination with activities undertaken by the Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF).

(3) Future of ASEM

(a) The ministers discussed measures to effectively and efficiently manage the enlarged ASEM while learning from the past experience of the ASEM process.
(b) The ministers decided to advance substantive cooperation on a small number of items discussed at FMM7 under the political, economic, cultural and other areas, towards ASEM6. The ministers agreed to set up an ASEM Virtual Secretariat to facilitate coordination and information sharing among ASEM countries. As for future membership, the ministers decided to continue discussion in order to achieve a common understanding for making decisions at ASEM6.

3. Significance of FMM7 for Japan

(1) In the political area, the ministers confirmed the importance of related countries to make a concerted effort to address the current regional situation as well as the threats faced by the international community, following the principle of multilateralism centered upon the UN. With regard to UN reform in particular, this meeting served as an opportunity to boost momentum toward realization of the reform, and added further impetus for future discussions in the international community.
(2) In the economic area, the ministers exchanged views on a wide range of issues concerning sustainable development, on which Japan has been attaching great importance. These issues include tackling climate change and building a sound material-cycle society, and the importance of drawing upon Asia's experience and taking a human-centered approach to development. The ministers decided to promote cooperation between Asia and Europe in this area.
(3) Japan played a leading role in the discussions on invigorating the enlarged ASEM, implementing more effective, efficient ASEM activities and considering the future of ASEM.
(4) The ministers endorsed the initiative jointly proposed by Japan and Finland to commission a report on the 10 years of ASEM. Japan also proposed holding the ASEM workshop on community-level actions for global environmental agenda, which was also endorsed by the ministers.
(5) FMM7 was the first international event held at the Kyoto State Guest House. FMM7 also became an occasion to publicize Kyoto's distinction through its discussion on climate change and culture.
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