PARIS – Discussions at a summit of leaders of the Asia Europe Meeting (ASEM) grouping in Beijing this week are expected to focus on the global financial crisis, climate change and energy security, said a senior official from the French Foreign Ministry.

The summit on October 24 and 25 will be seventh since the grouping of more than 40 members from Asia and Europe was created 12 years ago to promote dialogue on boosting political, economic and cultural cooperation between the two continents.

ASEM comprises the 27 members of the European Union and the 10 ASEAN members countries, as well as China, India, Japan, South Korea, Mongolia and Pakistan.

Myanmar, which joined ASEM in 2004, is expected to be represented at the Beijing summit by Foreign Minister U Nyan Win.

“Our main topics are the fiancial crisis, climate change and sustainable development,” senior French Foreign Ministry Mr Pierre Fournier told a meeting of journalists from various publications, including The Myanmar Times, in Paris on Wednesday.

“ASEM is made up of 43 countries that altogether represent 60 percent of the global population, 60pc of world trade and more than 50pc of the world’s GDP,” Mr Fournier said. “We have common stakes and common interests. One of the issue that is going to be more and more important is energy security and supply.”

He said ASEM holds its talks in an informal manner, which helps to make the dialogue more effective.

“The informal quality of ASEM is pretty important. ASEM is a dialogue forum so it has to be as free as possible so all topics can be brought up,” he said.

Mr Fournier said discussions at ASEM summits are also effective because NGOs are invited to participate.

“We are one of the rare regional bodies where civil society and government representatives can meet in the same room and discuss important issues,” he said.

Another senior French official, Mr Bertrand Fort, said dialogue among ASEM members has led to increased understanding between the two continents, including on human rights and religious matters.

Mr Fort said dialogue between Europe and Asia could become more effective as the ASEAN integration process takes shape.

He said efforts by ASEAN to adopt a new charter were an import step towards the regional integration of Southeast Asia, adding that the EU can share its experiences with ASEAN.

“What Europe can be for ASEAN is not a model but a reference,” Mr Fort said.
Mr Fort said European countries were interested in forging stronger economic ties with Asia.

“Europe’s interest in Asia is same as Asia’s interest in Europe, which is first to make business connections and second to make historical connections,” he said.