亞歐會議

【亞歐會議簡介】

亞歐會議（Asia-Europe Meeting，簡稱ASEM）成立于1996年，是亞洲和歐洲間重要的跨區(qū)域政府間論壇，旨在通過政治對話、經(jīng)濟合作和社會文化交流，增進了解，加強互信，推動建立亞歐新型、全面伙伴關系。

【成立】

1996年3月1日至2日，首屆亞歐首腦會議在泰國曼谷舉行，來自亞、歐兩大洲的25國和歐盟委員會的領導人出席。其中，亞洲為泰國、馬來西亞、菲律賓、印度尼西亞、文萊、新加坡、越南、中國、日本和韓國。歐洲為歐盟15個成員國，即意大利、德國、法國、荷蘭、比利時、盧森堡、丹麥、愛爾蘭、英國、希臘、西班牙、葡萄牙、奧地利、芬蘭、瑞典以及歐盟委員會。會議的主要議題包括亞歐會議的意義，亞歐在政治、經(jīng)濟、文化等領域的合作，亞歐會議的后續(xù)行動等。會議通過了《主席聲明》，并確定每兩年召開一次首腦會議。

【成員】

2004年10月，在越南河內(nèi)舉行的第五屆亞歐首腦會議上，亞洲的柬埔寨、老撾和緬甸三國及歐盟10個新成員（塞浦路斯、捷克、愛沙尼亞、匈牙利、拉脫維亞、立陶宛、馬耳他、波蘭、斯洛伐克、斯洛文尼亞）正式加入，實現(xiàn)了亞歐會議的首次擴大。2006年9月，在芬蘭赫爾辛基舉行的第六屆亞歐首腦會議決定接納蒙古、印度、巴基斯坦、東盟秘書處、保加利亞和羅馬尼亞6個新成員，亞歐會議成員增至45個。2010年10月，在比利時布魯塞爾舉行的第八屆亞歐首腦會議決定接納俄羅斯、澳大利亞、新西蘭3個新成員，亞歐會議成員增至48個。2012年11月，在老撾萬象舉行的第九屆亞歐首腦會議正式吸收孟加拉國、瑞士和挪威3國加入，亞歐會議成員增至51個。2014年10月，在意大利米蘭舉行的第十屆亞歐首腦會議正式吸收哈薩克斯坦和克羅地亞加入，亞歐會議成員增至53個。

【宗旨與原則】

根據(jù)首屆亞歐會議通過的《主席聲明》，亞歐會議的目標是在亞歐兩大洲之間建立旨在促進增長的新型、全面伙伴關系，加強相互對話、了解與合作，為經(jīng)濟和社會發(fā)展創(chuàng)造有利條件，維護世界和平與穩(wěn)定。

亞歐會議遵循以下原則：各成員之間對話的基礎應是相互尊重、平等、促進基本權利、遵守國際法規(guī)定的義務、不干涉他國內(nèi)部事務；合作應是開放和循序漸進的，后續(xù)行動應在協(xié)商一致的基礎上進行；新成員加入須先獲得所在地區(qū)支持，再由首腦會議協(xié)商一致決定。

【合作領域】

亞歐會議包括政治對話、經(jīng)貿(mào)合作、社會文化及其他領域交流三大支柱。亞歐各成員在各層面開展政治對話，增進相互了解和信任；在經(jīng)貿(mào)合作方面，積極開展宏觀經(jīng)濟和財經(jīng)政策對話，制定并落實《亞歐更緊密經(jīng)濟伙伴關系河內(nèi)宣言》，共同致力于促進兩地區(qū)經(jīng)濟和貿(mào)易穩(wěn)定增長；在文化交流和文明對話方面共識不斷增多，通過《亞歐會議文化與文明對話宣言》，制訂了中長期亞歐文化合作的規(guī)劃文件。各成員在科技、能源、勞動、反恐、執(zhí)法、環(huán)境和青年等領域也開展了合作。

【活動機制】

亞歐會議活動機制包括首腦會議、外長會議以及其他專業(yè)領域部長級會議等，日常工作通過高官會進行溝通協(xié)調(diào)。

亞歐首腦會議：負責確定亞歐會議的指導原則和發(fā)展方向，隔年在亞洲和歐洲輪流舉行，迄今已舉辦10屆，第11屆首腦會議將于2016年7月在蒙古烏蘭巴托舉行。

亞歐外長會議：負責亞歐會議活動的整體協(xié)調(diào)和政策規(guī)劃，通過有關指導性文件并批準新倡議。外長會議每兩年舉行一次，迄已舉辦11屆，第12屆外長會議將于2015年11月在盧森堡舉行。

亞歐高官會議：負責協(xié)調(diào)和管理亞歐會議各領域活動，并對首腦會議、外長會議預做準備，包括審議新倡議和磋商文件，以及就共同關心的國際地區(qū)問題初步交換看法。高官會通常不定期在亞歐之間輪流舉行，每年兩至三次。

亞歐會議協(xié)調(diào)員機制：負責日常協(xié)調(diào)，由亞歐各兩個成員組成。

亞歐會議還舉行經(jīng)濟、財政、文化部長和海關署長及科技、環(huán)境、教育、交通、農(nóng)業(yè)、中小企業(yè)、勞動等其他專業(yè)部長級會議，負責在各自領域落實首腦會議決定，制定合作規(guī)劃和開展相關活動。

亞歐工商論壇：系亞歐會議各成員工商界定期對話機制，旨在增進相互了解，促進企業(yè)間貿(mào)易、投資和技術合作，并向首腦會議和相關部長級會議提交工商界對重大問題的看法和建議，迄今已舉辦14屆。

亞歐議會伙伴會議：由亞歐會議成員國議會與歐洲議會組成，系非正式議會間論壇，旨在通過加強亞歐會議成員議會間的對話，增進亞歐人民之間的了解，推動亞歐會議進程，迄今已舉辦8屆。

亞歐人民論壇：為亞歐會議成員民間團體自行發(fā)起并參與的非政府組織論壇，主要討論和平與安全、經(jīng)濟與社會、民主和人權等三大領域問題，迄今已舉辦10屆。

【亞歐基金】

亞歐基金（Asia-Europe Foundation，簡稱ASEF）成立于1997年，是亞歐會議框架下唯一常設機構，負責開展亞歐學術、文化和人員交流活動，致力于加強亞歐相互了解，資金來源以亞歐會議各成員自愿捐款為主。辦事機構設在新加坡，為推動亞歐民間交流的重要渠道。

中國前駐印度大使張炎于2012年11月就任亞歐基金第六任總干事，任期至2016年10月底。

Asia-Europe Meeting

The Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM for short) was launched in 1996 and has served as an important transregional intergovernmental forum for dialogue and cooperation between Asia and Europe.It aims at enhancing mutual understanding,strengthening mutual trust,and promoting the establishment of new Asia-Europe comprehensive partnership through political dialogue,economic cooperation and social and cultural exchange.

[Initiation]The 1st ASEM Summit was held in Bangkok,Thailand on March 1 to 2,1996.The leaders from 25 Asian and European countries and from the European Commission attended this summit.The Asian countries include Thailand,Malaysia,Philippines,Indonesia,Brunei,Singapore,Vietnam,China,Japan and Korea and the European countries include 15 European Union countries — Italy,Germany,France,Netherlands,Belgium,Luxembourg,Denmark,Ireland,UK,Greece,Spain,Portugal,Austria,Finland,and Sweden and the European Commission.Key issues under discussion at this summit included the significance of ASEM,cooperation of Asia and Europe in such fields as politics,economy and culture and follow-up actions of ASEM.At this summit,the Chairman's Statement was passed and it was determined the summit be held every two years.

[Members]At the 5th ASEM Summit held in Hanoi,Vietnam,October 2004,three Asian countries - Cambodia,Laos and Myanmar and 10 new EU member countries - Cyprus,Czech Republic,Estonia,Hungary,Latvia,Republic of Lithuania,Malta,Poland,Slovakia,and Slovenia formally joined,witnessing the 1st expansion of ASEM.In September 2006,it was decided at the 6th ASEM Summit held in Helsinki,Finland to admit such 6 new members as Mongolia,India,Pakistan,the ASEAN Secretariat,Bulgaria and Rumania.Till then,the ASEM members had increased to 45.In October 2010,three new members,including Russia,Australia and New Zealand were admitted at the 8th ASEM Summit held in Brussels,Belgium,with the members increased to 48.In November 2012,Bangladesh,Switzerland and Norway were admitted at the 9th ASEM Summit held in Vientiane,Laos,with the members increased to 51.In October 2014,Kazakhstan and Croatia were admitted formally at the 10th ASEM Summit held in Milan,Italy,with the members increased to 53.

[Objectives and Principles]In accordance with the Chairman's Statement passed at the 1st ASEM,the ASEM is intended to establish a new comprehensible partnership between Asia and Europe with a purpose of promoting growth,enhancing mutual dialogue,understanding and cooperation,creating favorable conditions for social and economic development and maintaining world peace and stability.

ASEM observes the following principles: the dialogue between all the members shall be on the basis of mutual respect,equality,promotion of basic rights,compliance with the obligations specified in the International Law and no interference with the internal affairs of other countries;the cooperation shall be open and progressive and followup actions shall be taken on the basis of consensus;a new member must firstly win the regional support and then obtain the unanimous decision at the summit for admittance.

[Cooperation]The ASEM includes three pillars: political dialogue,economic and trade cooperation,exchange of social culture and other fields.In terms of political dialogue,all Asia-Europe members shall carry out political dialogue at each level to enhance mutual understanding and trust;in terms of economic and trade cooperation,they shall actively conduct dialogues on macroeconomic and financial policies,formulate and implement the Hanoi Declaration on Closer ASEM Economic Partnership,and jointly contribute to promoting the steady economic and trade growth of two regions;in terms of cultural exchange and dialogue among cultures,they have built greater consensus,passed ASEM Declaration on Dialogue among Cultures and Civilizations and developed a planning document for medium and long term Asia – Europe culture cooperation.Each member has also cooperated in such fields as science ＆ technology,energy,labor,anti-terrorist,law enforcement,environment and youth affairs.

[Mechanism]The ASEM consists of ASEM Summit,ASEM Foreign Ministers' Meeting,ASEM Ministerial Meeting of other professional fields and the like.Daily affairs are negotiated through ASEM Senior Officials' Meeting.

ASEM Summit: It is responsible for determining the guiding principle and development direction of ASEM and is held in Asia and Europe in turn every other year.So far,it has been held 10 sessions and the 11th ASEM Summit will be held in Ulan Bator,Mongolia,in July 2016.

ASEM Foreign Ministers' Meeting: It is responsible for overall coordination and policy planning of ASEM activities and for passing of related guiding documents and approval of new initiatives.This meeting is held every two years and has so far been held 11 sessions.The 12th ASEM Foreign Ministers' Meeting will be held in Luxembourg and in November 2015.

ASEM Senior Officials' Meeting: It is responsible for coordination and management of ASEM activities in each field and for preparations of ASEM Summit and ASEM Foreign Ministers' Meeting,including review of new initiatives,discussion of documents and initial exchange of views on mutually concerned international and regional issues.This meeting is held in turn in an Asia or European country irregularly (twice to three times every year).

ASEM Coordinators: It is responsible for daily coordination and composed of two members from Asia and two members from Europe.

ASEM also includes the ministerial meeting for Minister of Economic Affairs,Finance Minister,Minister of Culture,the Director of Customs and the ministers of such other professional fields like science and technology,environment,education,transportation,agriculture,SME and labor.The ministerial meeting is responsible for implementing the decisions of ASEM summit in their respective field and formulating cooperative planning and carrying out relevant activities.

Asia-Europe Business Forum: As a regular dialogue mechanism of business community ASEM members,it aims at enhancing mutual understanding,promoting interenterprise trade,investment and technical cooperation,and submitting to the summit and related ministerial conference related business views and suggestions on major issues.So far,it has been held 14 sessions.

Asia-Europe Parliamentary Partnership Meeting: It consists of ASEM Member's Parliament and European Parliament and is a BBS between informal parliamentary system,aiming to strengthen the dialogue between ASEM members of parliament,to promote understanding between Asian and European people,and to promote the ASEM process.So far,it has been held 8 sessions.

Asia-Europe People's Forum: It is a NGO forum initiated and joined by ASEM members of civil society to mainly discuss the issues of such three fields like peace and security,economy and society,democracy and human rights.So far,it has been held 10 sessions.

[Asia-Europe Foundation]Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF for short),founded in 1997,is the only standing body under the framework of the ASEM and is responsible for conducting Asia-Europe academic,cultural and personnel exchanges to strengthen Asia-Europe mutual understanding.The funds are mainly from voluntary contributions of ASEM members.The working body is based in Singapore and functions as an important channel to promote Asia-Europe non-governmental exchange.

Zhang Yan,former ambassador to India,took office as the sixth director-general of ASEF in November 2012 with the term of office to the end of October 2016.