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The fifth gathering of Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) finance ministers was wrapped up in Bali, Indonesia on Sunday, following two-day discussions on issues important to Asia and Europe.
"The first day of the meeting addressed the global and regional economic and financial condition, the longer-term prospect of achieving the Millennium Development Goals and the partnership for growth and development between Asia and Europe," Indonesian Finance Minister Boediono said in a joint press conference.
"The second day addressed development of inter-regional financial cooperation, combating the financing of terrorism and money laundering," he added without elaborating.
The ASEM Finance Ministers Meeting was attended by delegates from 10 Asian Nations and 14 European Union member countries. Denmark was absent from the gathering.
Participating delegates, Boediono said, agreed on the need to support the global recovery in order to achieve higher sustainable growth and employment creation through sound macroeconomics policies and structural reforms.
"Ministers welcomed the objectives of the initiative proposed by Indonesia to strengthen the partnership for growth and development between Asia and Europe -- The Bali initiative," he said.
The sixth ASEM Finance Ministers' meeting will be held in Netherlands in 2004 and the fifth ASEM Summit in Hanoi in the same year, he said.
(Xinhua News Agency July 6, 2003)
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