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Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Regional Organizations (RO) Wing


Dhaka
Date: 24 January 2019

Sub: Inputs for West Europe and EU Wing for the upcoming VVIP Visit to Germany

Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) Background

Overview

 The Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) is an informal process of dialogue and cooperation bringing
together 28 European Union member states, 2 other European countries, and the European Union
with 21 Asian countries and the ASEAN Secretariat.

 ASEM represents around 60% of the world's population, 50% of the global GDP and almost 60% of
the world's trade. The ASEM dialogue addresses political, economic and cultural issues, with the
objective of strengthening the relationship between our two regions, in a spirit of mutual respect and
equal partnership.

 The initial ASEM partnership in 1996 consisted of 15 EU member states and 7 ASEAN member states
plus China, Japan, Korea and the European Commission.

 The latest round of enlargement during the 10th ASEM Summit (ASEM10) in October 2014 in Milan
(Italy) welcomed Croatia to the European side and Kazakhstan to the Asian side. This brings the total
ASEM membership to 53 partners.

 The ASEM Summit is a biennial meeting between the Heads of State and Government, the President
of the European Council, the President of the European Commission, and the Secretary-General of
the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

 The origins of the ASEM process lay in a mutual recognition, in both Asia and Europe, that the
relationship between the two regions needed to be strengthened, reflecting the new global context of
the 1990s, and the perspectives of the new century. In light of the European Commission’s July 1994
publication Towards a New Strategy for Asia, concentrated on the political, economic and cultural
significance of Europe’s relationship with Asia.

 In November 1994, Singapore and France proposed that an EU-Asia summit meeting be held, to
consider how to build a new partnership between these two regions. Following Singapore's proposal,
the first ASEM Summit was held in Bangkok in March 1996 marking the launch of the ASEM Summit.

 As an informal process of dialogue and cooperation, based on equal partnership and enhancing
mutual understanding, ASEM facilitates and stimulates progress in other fora. ASEM has no
Secretariat. Foreign Ministers and their senior officials (SOM) have an overall coordinating role within
the ASEM process, and are assisted in this by an informal group of Coordinators (two from the Asian
side and two from the European side).

 ASEM has grown beyond initial expectations and has taken incremental steps to translate informal
and multi-layered dialogue process into visible outcomes. The forum is gradually fetching vital
benefits to its members in their endeavors to sustain peace, security, stability and economic
recovery. Many of the achievements of ASEM are worth emulating by others. These facts are all
testaments to ASEM’s continued value. Indeed, ASEM has effectively become a commonwealth of
nations from Europe and Asia. ASEM has withstood the test of time.
Key Characteristics of ASEM

As an informal process of dialogue and cooperation, based on equal partnership and enhancing mutual
understanding, ASEM can best work to facilitate and stimulate progress in other fora, and may not seek
to duplicate what is being done within bilateral and other multilateral relationships with Asia.

 Informality: It provides a open forum for policy makers and officials to discuss any political,
economic and socio-cultural issues of common interest. In this way, it complements rather than
duplicates the work already being carried out in bilateral and other multilateral fora.

 Multi-dimensionality: It covers the full spectrum of relations between the two regions and devotes
equal weight to political, economic and socio-cultural dimensions.

 Emphasis on equal partnership: It eschews any ‘aid-based’ relationship taken forward under our
bilateral relations in favour of a more general process of dialogue and co-operation based on mutual
respect and mutual benefit.

 Dual focus on high-level and people-to-people contacts: It provides a platform for meeting of
heads of states or governments, ministers and senior officials, and with an increasing focus on
fostering contacts between societies in all sectors in the two regions.

Bangladesh and ASEM

Bangladesh’s admission into ASEM bears bright prospect for Bangladesh for strengthening its ever
growing influence in regional integration. In the 9th ASEM Summit held in Vientiane, Lao PDR on 05-06
November 2012, Bangladesh, Switzerland, and Norway would be officially admitted to ASEM.

Bangladesh’s Participation in ASEM

Bangladesh’s maiden participation in ASEM was in the SOM held on 18-19 June 2012 in Islamabad.
Hon’ble Minister for Cultural Affairs joined the Meeting of the Cultural Ministers from 18-19 September
2012. Hon’ble Finance Minister and Hon’ble Minister for Labour & Employment were invited to join
respectively the Finance Minister’s Meeting and Labour Ministers’ Meeting in October 2012. Hon’ble
Foreign Minister joined the 11th Foreign Minister’s Meeting held in New Delhi on 11-12 November 2013.
Hon’ble Prime Minister attended the 11th ASEM Summit held in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia on 15-16 July
2016.

Bangladesh’s Stakes in the ASEM

 ASEM is assuming growing significance both in geopolitics and geo-economic terms, and Bangladesh
needs to remain engaged in ASEM processes and activities, both to understand the trends of change
happening in political and strategic spaces in these two dynamic continents and to derive maximum
commercial and economic benefits from this Platform.

 Europe, being the largest destination of Bangladesh's export and a major development partner, ASEM
could be regarded as an important platform, where Bangladesh could master the collective strength
of the Asian countries and pursue her viewpoints/interests to Europe.

 Bangladesh may gain in manifold from its association with ASEM. Europe, being the largest
destination of Bangladeshi export and a major development partner, ASEM could be the only platform
where for Bangladesh, ASEM gives opportunities to exchange in a more informal way with other
counterparts. This could yield benefits in understanding the differences, appreciating them as well as
enhancing our stance as an engaging, active and responsible actor in global scene.
 As a dialogue facilitator, ASEM provides ample opportunities for Bangladesh to raise global issues
which integrate national interest from different perspective. Issues like Climate Change, Migration,
Food Security or Energy Security are of key concerns for countries like Bangladesh and ASEM covers
potentially all issues of common interest to Europe and Asia.

 At this stage all the discussions which are taking place under the auspices of ASEM, may have
informal directives or only providing recommendations, not with stringent policies, but at least this is
opening the avenue for debate, creating consensus among the countries on burden sharing and
common responsibility. Connectivity is a timely and very much needed agenda of the world.
Bangladesh believes a more connected world will be safer, more prosperous with a better capability
of addressing the challenges.

 Government of Bangladesh has always been interested to be associated with ASEM as it undertakes
innovative and enterprising steps to meet the aspirations of Asian and European peoples. Bangladesh
will receive the participants of the ASEF Summer University in 2019 and extend her all out support to
make the programme a success. Certainly this event will make a positive impact within ASEM
societies through offering innovation, and promoting sustainable development.

 Bangladesh opts for a successful and meaningful ASEM Summit which may promote common stability
and prosperity of Asia and Europe.

The 12th ASEM Summit (Brussels, 18-19 October 2018)

The 12th ASEM (Asia-Europe Meeting) Summit was held on 18-19 October 2018 in Brussels, Belgium to
strengthen dialogue and cooperation between the two continents on a wide range of areas. The Hon’ble
Foreign Minister H.E. Mr. Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali, MP led the Bangladesh delegation to the Summit.
Members of the delegation included Ambassador of Bangladesh to Belgium, Director General (Regional
Organizations), and Director (FMO).The theme of the 12th ASEM Summit was ‘Europe and Asia: Global
Partners for Global Challenges.’ The ASEM Summit is the highest platform for dialogue and cooperation
between Asia and Europe. Held biannually, the hosting of the Summit rotates between Europe and Asia,
and offers a unique opportunity to promote common understanding between the two continents, and to
address ASEM partners’ common challenges.

 Participants: The 12th ASEM summit brought together heads of state or government, foreign
ministers and high representatives of 51 European and Asian countries, President of the European
Council (EC) and the Secretary General of the ASEAN. The summit was chaired by the EC President
Donald Tusk. European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and High Representative for
Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini represented the EU at the summit.

 ASEM Issues: Leaders in the Summit sought to strengthen dialogue and cooperation between the
two continents on a wide range of areas, including: expansion of trade and investment, connectivity,
sustainable development, climate change, migration, human rights, multilateral trade regime, water
resource management, food security, empowerment of women, poverty reduction, repatriation of
Rohingya refugees and a host of security issues such as terrorism, non-proliferation, cyber-security,
etc.

 Plenary Session, Retreat Session and ASEM Fora: Two plenary sessions and a retreat session
were held during the 12th ASEM Summit. The themes of the plenary sessions were respectively: (a)
‘Building the future together: Promoting Inclusive Growth and Sustainable Connectivity’; and (b)
‘Reinforcing the multilateral system: Advancing the ASEM Partnership on Global Challenges’.
Discussions during the retreat session centered mainly on the ongoing peace process in the Korean
Peninsula, complicacies associated with the Iran Nuclear Deal, cyber security, counter terrorism,
irregular migration and maritime security. With a view to making the event fruitful, discussions were
held in four fora arranged prior to the Summit. These were: (a) Business-to-Business Forum; (b)
People-to-People Forum; (c) Parliamentarians Forums; and (d) Youth Forum.

 Rohingya Refugees: During the 12th ASEM Summit, the leaders stressed the importance of finding
a comprehensive and durable solution to address the root causes of the conflict in Rakhine State and
commended Bangladesh for sheltering displaced persons. Leaders looked forward to the
implementation of the Arrangement on Return of Displaced Persons from Rakhine State between
Myanmar and Bangladesh signed on 23 November 2017, and of the Memorandum of Understanding
(MOU) signed among Myanmar, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and
the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on 6 June 2018. Leaders underlined the need to
create conducive conditions for the safe, voluntary, dignified, and sustainable return and
reintegration of displaced persons to Rakhine State.

 Economy, Trade, WTO: The leaders in the Summit stressed that recent international developments
had boosted the relevance of ASEM as a building block for effective multilateralism and the rules-
based international order anchored in international law and with the United Nations at its core. They
highlighted the vital need of maintaining an open world economy and upholding the rules-based
multilateral trading system, with the World Trade Organization at its core. They also highlighted the
importance of continued structural efforts towards deeper economic integration, both at the regional
and global level. Leaders noted the importance of the steady synchronization of global growth,
supported by strong domestic and external demand. They emphasized the positive role that Micro,
Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (MSMEs) could bring to promoting balanced and inclusive
growth. Leaders also recognized the need to work together to find solutions to the challenges
stemming from the rapid expansion of the digital economy and technological changes notably the
fight against tax avoidance, evasion and fraud.

 SDGs: The leaders in the Summit stressed their commitment to implement fully the 2030 Agenda for
Sustainable Development and Addis Ababa Action Agenda. They reiterated that gender equality and
the empowerment of women and girls are crucial to sustainable development and must be
mainstreamed in all three pillars of ASEM (political, economic and financial, and socio-cultural).

 Connectivity: They underlined the link between ASEM connectivity and sustainable development for
achieving the 2030 Agenda. They attached importance to the shared interest of all ASEM partners in
strengthening Europe-Asia sustainable connectivity across ASEM's three pillars, as a means of
bringing countries, people and societies closer together. To ensure better connectivity between
Europe and Asia, they also stressed the importance of developing and strengthening transport
systems and infrastructure that are environmentally, socially and fiscally sustainable, financially
viable, affordable and accessible.

 Climate Change, Water, Food Security: The Summit recognized the serious challenge posed by
climate change, its tremendous impact felt world-wide and the need for urgent and effective action
by all countries in line with the Paris Agreement. The leaders expressed their support for bi-regional
cooperation such as that between the Danube and Mekong regions as a model of how to transform
trans-boundary water management and food security challenges into opportunities for sustainable
development.

 Disarmament and Non-proliferation: ASEM leaders underlined their commitment to uphold the
global non-proliferation regime and to ensure the full implementation of the obligations derived from
all relevant international instruments and the UN Security Council Resolutions. They welcomed the
recent developments on the Korean Peninsula, in particular the three inter-Korean Summits and the
US-DPRK Summit. With regard to Iran, they reiterated their collective support for diplomatic dialogue
and the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action endorsed by the UN Security Council.

 Terrorism, Violent Extremism, Cyber Security: Leaders committed to enhancing collaboration in


ASEM to tackle radicalization leading to violence, terrorism financing and abuse of the Internet by
terrorist groups, terrorist recruitment, foreign terrorist fighters and transnational crime. In addition,
leaders highlighted the importance of combating cyber security threats. They stressed the crucial
need to prevent the use of technology for criminal or terrorist purposes, while at the same time
safeguarding human rights and freedoms online.

 Migration: The Summit underlined that migration flows represented a global challenge and need a
multilevel response. They noted that safe, orderly and regular migration could contribute positively to
growth and sustainable development in countries of origin, transit and destination. They stressed that
stemming irregular migration required a comprehensive international response.

 Ocean Governance and Maritime Security: Leaders underscored their commitment to clean and
sustainably managed oceans, to forge partnerships and promote improved global ocean governance
and sustainable blue growth. They also reaffirmed their commitment to ensure maritime security and
safety, freedom of navigation and overflight and to combat piracy.

 Education: The Summit recognized the importance of access to quality education as a basic human
right and a tool for responsible citizenship, economic prosperity and resilience of society. Leaders
recalled the role of lifelong learning, including technical and vocational education and training and
human resources development.

 Sustainable Tourism and Cultural Diplomacy: Leaders committed to promoting and


strengthening cooperation on sustainable tourism across the two regions, including conservation and
management of cultural and natural heritage, the environment and its bio-diversity, by sharing best
practices and expertise, conducting trainings and building capacity. They also reiterated the
importance of cultural diplomacy and recognized cultural cooperation as an engine for social and
economic development, especially by fostering city-to-city cooperation.

 Inclusive and sustainable economic growth: ASEM leaders stressed the importance of
refraining from complacency, via continued structural efforts and deeper economic integration - both
at the regional and global level. Leaders noted that despite the better-than-expected recent economic
outturn among most ASEM partners, risks of the global economy over medium-term remain tilted to
the downside. Leaders encouraged private sector contributions to SDGs, including through
responsible business practices.

 Women economic empowerment and gender equality: ASEM 12 highlighted ASEM’s role in
boosting women economic empowerment and gender equality, through dialogue and exchange of
best practices. It underscored the need to reduce gender gaps in political, economic, corporate and
public life, champion women leaders, use new technologies enabling gender equality, and advance
education for women, including financial literacy.

 Tax and digitalization of the economy: ASEM Leaders made reference to the technological
changes and rapid increase of digital economy, including e-commerce, recognizing challenges for
international taxation and domestic revenue mobilization, taxing rights between jurisdictions, and
international tax standards for highly digitalized business models and activities. ASEM countries
pledged to contribute to global discussions on digital taxation within G20 and OECD, and push for
more effective international solutions.

 The Asia Europe Foundation (ASEF): ASEM 12 highlighted the role of ASEF in fostering and
deepening people-to-people contacts, especially the young. The leaders underscored the need for
very close alignment of ASEF activities with the ASEM process, to boost its relevance and enhance
ASEF and ASEM visibility and outreach through a modern communications strategy, with active use of
social media platforms.

 ASEM SOMs: In lead up to the preparations for the 12th ASEM Summit, several Senior Officials’
Meetings (SOMs) were held. Bangladesh Ambassador and Permanent Representative in Austria
attended the first SOM held in Vienna (28-29 June 2018), Director General (RO) attended the second
SOM held in Tokyo (14 September 2018) and Bangladesh Ambassador to Belgium attended the third
SOM held in Brussels (15-17 October 2018). Earlier, Senior Officials' Meeting Retreat (ASEM SOM-R)
for the 12th ASEM Summit was held in Zurich, Switzerland on 3-4 May 2018.

 The 13th ASEM Summit: It was decided that the 13th ASEM Summit (ASEM 13) will be held in
Phnom Penh, Cambodia, in 2020.

 Hon’ble Foreign Minister’s Bilateral Meetings in the sidelines of the 12th ASEM Summit:
Before commencement of the plenary session, Hon’ble Foreign Minister held meetings with the
Foreign Minister of Malta and the President of the Swiss Federation on 19 October 2018. Matters of
bilateral interests were discussed during these meetings.

Highlights of the Hon’ble Foreign Minister’s Speech at the 12th ASEM Summit

 Hon’ble Foreign Minister delivered a speech in the second plenary session on 19 October 2018. He
stated that Bangladesh, with its democratic, secular and progressive identity had remained
unrelenting in its efforts to promote global peace, progress and prosperity as envisioned by the
Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. He informed the leaders of the Summit
of Bangladesh’s recent graduation from the least developed to developing country’s status under the
dynamic leadership of Hon’ble Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

 Hon’ble Foreign Minister commended that ASEM had expanded significantly since its inception and
had taken steps to translate informal and multi-layered dialogue process into visible outcomes. He
noted that ASEM held an immense potential as a pivot for political, economic and social cooperation
on a global scale. He stressed the need to define and promote new elements for cooperation to
enhance its effectiveness and relevance. Hon’ble Foreign Minister reaffirmed Bangladesh’s strong
commitment to further deepening partnership between the two regions on the principles of equality,
mutual respect and shared benefit while preserving the informal and flexible nature of the ASEM
process.

 In his speech, Hon’ble Foreign Minister presented an account of Bangladesh’s vigorous efforts and
steps towards attaining sustainable development goals. He also mentioned that Bangladesh had
assumed a leadership role in the international migration arena to enhance dialogue and cooperation
in the migration and development discourse by hosting several high-level events. He draw attention
of the Summit leaders to the current situation of over a million forcibly displaced Rohingya refugees
sheltered in Bangladesh. He acknowledged with thanks the support and empathy of the international
community, including the European Union in this regard. He further called upon the international
community to assertively persuade Myanmar so that the repatriation process could start soon.

 As regards combating the grave challenges of climate change, Hon’ble Foreign Minister stated that
ASEM cooperation mechanism should include aspects of capacity-building, eco-friendly technology
transfer, support for sustainable green growth, including the principle of common but differentiated
responsibilities and respective capabilities towards the timely and full realization of the goals of the
Paris Agreement.

 Hon’ble Foreign Minister stressed that partnership between ASEM countries for sustainable
management and protection of marine and coastal ecosystems was critical. Mentioning terrorism and
violent extremism as a major threat to peace, stability and development, he affirmed that Bangladesh
remained committed to enforcing ‘zero tolerance’ policy against violent extremism and radicalization
of any kind or manifestations.
The 11th ASEM Summit (Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, 15-16 July 2016)

Hon’ble Prime Minister’s Participation in the 11th ASEM Summit

 Hon’ble prime Minister, during her statement in the plenary session, underscored that connectivity is
no longer a choice for any community; it is about seizing strategic opportunity. She emphasized the
need for integrating connectivity into development discourses and termed it a key element for
regional integration. She shared with the world readers the notable advancements being made in our
region, citing the example of BCIM-EC.

 She also highlighted Bangladesh's momentous achievements in digital connectivity and its
contributions towards realizing our ambition of emerging as a middle income country by 2021.
Hon'ble Prime Minister appreciated the establishment of ASEM working group on connectivity and
hoped for a robust and proactive role and target oriented actions of the group for producing visible
outcomes.

 Hon’ble Prime Minister seized the opportunity to reiterate our zero tolerance policy towards terrorism
and violent extremism.

 The summit provided the opportunity for Bangladesh delegation to exchange views on the evolving
global issues, specially the issues of our concerns and interests, which include climate change
impacts, migration, energy security, connectivity and food security

 As far as outcome documents were concerned, the interests of Bangladesh on various regional and
global issues had been adequately reflected. This is the first time ‘blue economy’ featured in an ASEM
document.

(Deen Muhammad Imadul Hoque)


Senior Assistant Secretary (RO)

Assistant Secretary (West Europe and EU-II)

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