Asia-Europe Meeting
The Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) is a major inter-governmental process designed to foster a new comprehensive partnership between Asia and Europe. Its goals are to encourage dialogue, mutual understanding, and cooperation, and create favorable conditions for economic and social development on the two continents.
The First ASEM Summit was held in Bangkok, Thailand, in March 1996. It published a Chairman's Statement and announced the decision to hold a summit of Heads of State and Government every two years. The 10th ASEM Summit, in Milan (Italy) in 2014, accepted Croatia and Kazakhstan as partners, and the number of countries involved rose to 53.
The ASEM rests on three pillars: political dialogue, economic cooperation, and socio-cultural exchanges. Its main activities include the Summits, Foreign Ministers Meetings and other Ministerial Meetings. Its day-to-day operations are coordinated through ASEM Senior Officials Meetings.
The Summits set ASEM principles and priorities. These biennial meetings are held alternately in Asia and Europe, and to date 12 Summits have been convened. The Foreign Ministers Meetings are responsible for the overall coordination and policy planning of all activities, adopting guidance documents and approving new initiatives.
The Senior Officials Meetings are held to ensure continuity in the work of ASEM and oversee preparations for the Summits and for Foreign Ministers Meetings.
The Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF), founded in 1997, is the only permanent institution under ASEM. It is tasked with promoting greater mutual understanding between Asia and Europe through academic, cultural and people-to-people exchanges.
亞歐會議
亞歐會議是亞洲和歐洲間重要的跨區域政府間論壇，旨在促進兩大洲間建立新型、全面伙伴關系，加強相互對話、了解與合作，為亞歐經濟社會發展創造有利條件。1996年3月，首屆亞歐首腦會議在泰國曼谷舉行，會議通過了《主席聲明》，確定每兩年召開一次首腦會議。2014年在意大利米蘭舉行的第十屆亞歐首腦會議，決定接納克羅地亞和哈薩克斯坦為新成員，亞歐會議成員增至53個。亞歐會議包括政治對話、經貿合作、社會文化及其他領域交流三大支柱，活動機制包括首腦會議、外長會議及部長級會議等，日常工作通過高官會進行溝通協調。亞歐首腦會議負責確定亞歐會議的指導原則和發展方向，隔年在亞洲和歐洲輪流舉行，迄今已舉辦12屆。亞歐外長會議負責亞歐會議活動的整體協調和政策規劃，通過有關指導性文件并批準新倡議。亞歐高官會議負責協調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。成立于1997年的亞歐基金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。
