Outline of the Ninth Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM 9)

1.Schedule, participants

The Ninth Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM 9) opened in Vientiane, Laos, on November 5, 2012, with Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda representing Japan. With the leaders of 49 countries and two organizations – including the three new partners of Bangladesh, Norway and Switzerland – present, they exchanged views on economic and financial issues on the first day of ASEM 9. On the second day, November 6, the leaders discussed global issues, social and cultural cooperation, and regional issues etc.

2. Main points of discussion

(1) Session 1: Economic and Financial Issues

(a) Prime Minister Noda expressed his perception of the global economy, saying the European debt crisis was considered the most serious risk factor at present. He first referred to the International Monetary Fund and World Bank meetings which Japan hosted in Tokyo, the expansion of the IMF’s financial resources to which Japan pledged its contribution earlier than any other country, and the strengthening of Asia’s financial safety network for which Japan showed leadership. He then expressed Japan's determination to contribute to the development of both Europe and Asia by pursuing fiscal consolidation and economic growth at the same time and realizing sustained growth. Concerning closer regional economic integration, Prime Minister Noda expressed Japan's intention to push ahead with high-level strategic and multilayered economic partnerships with a wide range of countries. He also expressed Japan's readiness to contribute to a shift toward a green economy based on the "Green Future" initiatives that Japan announced at the Rio+20 U.N. conference.

(b) Concerning the global economy, many European countries acknowledged the presence of problems yet to be resolved to recover from the European debt crisis, but they pointed out that Europe had long played a role as the source of reform and innovation, adding that it still had a potential for growth. In addition, some European speakers expressed expectations for ASEM’s role, saying that the strengthening of cooperation with and dependence on Asia, the center of growth, would generate vitality necessary for global economic recovery. In general, the participants shared the understanding that it was necessary to calmly analyze the current issues, including the balance between fiscal consolidation and economic growth, and work out how Asia and Europe could cooperate in the future.

(c) Concerning trade, many countries mentioned the importance of increasing Asian investment and trade by enhancing partnership in the region and between Asia and Europe. In addition, some countries, particularly ASEAN members, pointed to the importance of strengthening connectivity in Asia for trade liberalization. On the whole, many remarks made during the meeting bore the tone that ASEM partners should contribute to the revitalization of trade in the Asian and European regions according to the realities of each country, such as developed, emerging and developing countries. Some countries pointed out the necessity of revitalizing the Doha Development Agenda of WTO talks.

(d) Many countries, primarily developed countries, expressed the view that it was necessary to realize a swift shift to a green economy from the perspective of achieving growth and at the same time protecting the global environment. In addition, some countries pointed to the importance of addressing social aspects such as job creation, poverty elimination and equal employment opportunities for both sexes.

(2) Session 2: Global Issues

(a) In the morning of the second day, global issues were discussed and then the third session ensued about social and cultural cooperation. Prime Minister Noda was not scheduled to speak for the record at the two sessions.

(b) In the session on global issues, discussions were conducted on climate change, disarmament and nonproliferation, energy security, food security, water resource management, disaster management, and counter terrorism and piracy at sea .

(c) What was talked about most frequently was climate change, followed by water resource management and food security. In addition, some remarks were made about disaster management, piracy and drug trafficking.

(d) Overall, the participants shared the recognition that internationally cooperative actions were indispensable to deal with issues stemming from globalization, that there were a variety of multilateral processes for that end and that agreement within such international frameworks would be made easier by fostering trust and mutual understanding among  ASEM partners through dialogue in the ASEM process.

(3) Session 3: Social and Cultural Cooperation

(a) Social and cultural cooperation has been one of the three main pillars of ASEM since its inception, along with politics and the economy, and has also been one of ASEM’s characteristics. In view of these characteristics, many remarks were made to welcome ASEM 9 taking up social and cultural cooperation as one of its agenda items.

(b) Education was the subject in which many participants expressed interest. In that connection, it was pointed out that promotion of people-to-people exchanges, through such means as sending youths to other countries for study, would help facilitate mutual understanding.

(c) With regard to social cooperation, it was noted that much progress had been made in strengthening cooperation in the development of human resources and individual capabilities through dialogue among ASEM partners on employment and social policies and that greater endeavors should be directed toward promoting these activities which would lead to economic growth and job creation.

(4) Session 4: Regional Issues

(See the attached document)

(5) Session 5: Future Direction of ASEM

(a) At the outset of this session, Prime Minister Noda spoke along the following lines:

(i) ASEM being the sole forum linking Asia and Europe, discussing matters of interest to both regions and sharing common recognition are important not only for Asia and Europe but also for the peace and stability of the international community.

(ii) He stressed the significance of ASEM from three angles: politics and security, the economy, and social and cultural cooperation. Based on that, he placed much expectation on the future of ASEM as a forum to share basic values. Specifically, he said it was possible for Asia and Europe to share basic values, regarded as universal, while recognizing each other’s cultural and social diversities. As regards the management of ASEM which continues to expand, he cautioned against making it an excessively institutional entity that might result from the pursuit of greater efficiency, and pledged Japan’s readiness to contribute positively to maintaining ASEM’s unique characteristics as a forum for dialogue and to further improving its efficiency.

(b) In the discussions that ensued, many views were expressed that ASEM had a high potential as a unique forum of dialogue that could take up any subject. As for future expansion, ASEM partners concurred that since ASEM was an open forum, the doors should remain open to any country with willingness and capability to contribute to its cause. Recognizing that there was room for improving efficiency, the participants shared the perception that discussions would be conducted before the next summit meeting to see what measures might be taken in addition to utilizing the chairman’s support group.

(c) At this session, it was announced that the next ASEM Foreign Ministers’ Meeting would be held in New Delhi, India, on November 14 and 15, 2013.

3. Documents issued

On the basis of the discussions enumerated above, the following outcome documents were released:

(1)ASEM 9 Chair’s Statement [PDF]
(2)Vientiane Declaration on Strengthening Partnership for Peace and Development [PDF]