Prime Minister in the ASEP Meeting

It gives me great pleasure to have the opportunity to address this Fourth Meeting of the Asia-Europe Parliamentary Partnership. I am convinced that today's meeting will contribute significantly to the strengthened role of ASEP as an important instrument in the overall dialogue and cooperation between Asia and Europe.

I am also pleased to see that ASEP has taken measures to enhance its institutional cooperation by adopting the Rules of Procedure of Asia-Europe Parliamentary Partnership Meetings. I am sure that a strengthened format and smoothened proceedings will assist ASEP in making an active and important contribution to Asia-Europe relations in general and the ASEM process in particular. I take note of the parlamentarians’ wish to address the summit and will consider this request in a positive spirit.

It is with equal satisfaction that I noticed that today's programme is very much in line with the agenda of the forthcoming ASEM6 summit. Even though this agenda is still in the process of being developed, I can assure you that topics such as climate change and its global economic implications, and cultural exchange between Asia and Europe will be also on the table in Helsinki in September.

The upcoming EU Presidency will provide Finland with an excellent opportunity to contribute to the continued strengthening of the EU's engagement with Asia in all important areas of cooperation. In particular the hosting of the ASEM6 summit in Helsinki will allow us to ensure that the Asia-Europe Meeting effectively addresses the common challenges we face in today's interconnected and interdependent world.

The conclusions of the joint Finnish-Japanese study on ASEM's past achievements and future possibilities give us food for thought by looking back and assessing ASEM's first decade. They also hinted at the possible way ahead in order to take the Asia-Europe cooperation to the next phase. The study pointed out that Asia-Europe cooperation is no longer a luxury but a necessity. It is here that ASEM has a vital role to play. ASEM is certainly not the only tool for cooperation between the two regions. Yet it is without any doubt the most encompassing cooperation framework, and, given its nature and character, also the most flexible one.

Asia and Europe constitute two of the world's dominant regions in the so-called tripolar global order. A bit more than ten years ago Asia-Europe relations were described as the "missing link" or the "weak leg of the triangle" in the international structure. We have come a long way since. Asia-Europe relations have now matured and have grown into a globally significant partnership between an economically re-invigorated East Asia and a further integrated and enlarged European Union.

The role that the Asia-Europe Meeting has played in bringing the two regions closer together should not be underestimated. The first ASEM summit in March 1996 was certainly a milestone and the beginning of a new era in Asia-Europe relations. The common goal that the leaders at the time agreed upon, was to forge a Partnership for Greater Growth, based on dialogue and cooperation between equals. Each of the five summits held during the ensuing decade contributed to a widening of that dialogue and cooperation between Europe and Asia in an extensive variety of fields. This is certainly one of ASEM’s valuable accomplishments.

In the field of trade and economy, the growing importance of East Asia for the EU is obvious when we look at recent figures. The so-called Asian ASEM countries accounted for 23% of the world's imports and more than 28% of global exports. Moreover, the importance of East Asia as a trade partner for the EU has been increasing significantly. 29% of all the EU's imports now derive from East Asia, and 16% of its exports finds its way to Asian ASEM partners. This makes the Asian ASEM countries the EU's most important trade partner.

But also in other fields a lot has been achieved. The political dialogue on respect for democracy, the rule of law, justice and human rights, and global stability and security has intensified. In the social and cultural fields, progress has been made in the protection of cultural heritage and promotion of cultural diversity for example. ASEM has furthermore served as a useful forum for consensus-building ahead of meetings in other bilateral and multilateral frameworks.

Yet a lot of challenges as well as opportunities remain for both regions. ASEM still has a key role to play in promoting multilateralism and tackling issues of comprehensive security. In the field of economy and trade, the EU can profit from the continuing integration and regionalization in East Asia. The high demand for EU technology and investments offers many opportunities for European companies. Asia on the other hand can benefit from the EU's enlarged and expanded market. At the same time we have to tackle the challenges brought about by globalization and economic growth. We have to continue our joint search for human-centered and sustainable development, and jointly address environment and energy security. Now more than ever, ASEM has an important function in the promotion of dialogue, exchange, and understanding between people of different beliefs, cultures, and civilisations.

We have to ensure that ASEM strengthens the ties with all its stakeholders, including parliaments, the business community, the media and civil society from our both regions. In my view a closer involvement of bottom-up input will greatly contribute to a stronger feeling of ownership, and enhance visibility and awareness of ASEM and the Asia-Europe relations among the wider public. It is here that the Asia-Europe Parliamentary Partnership (ASEP) can play a vital role, and by doing so add weight to the ASEM process. As a result Asia and Europe will be better equipped to work together, generate joint responses to common challenges, and make an effective impact on global issues.