Closed Sessions
The following press releases summarise discussions under the different pillars:
First Closed Session of the Heads of Delegations to ASEM 5
1. In the morning of 8th October 2004, at the International Conference Centre in Hanoi, the first Closed Session of the Heads of Delegation took place under the chairmanship of H.E. Mr. Phan Van Khai, Prime Minister of Vietnam. The Session focused on the topic "International Developments and New Global Challenges".
2. Prime Minister Phan Van Khai underlined that the Session would further consolidate the commonality of views among ASEM members about major issues in the world and would lay down guidelines for the enhancement of ASEM cooperation, thereby contributing to the consolidation of the world peace and security and enhancing the role of multilateral institutions.
3. The Leaders exchanged views on such major issues as peace, security and stability, multilateralism, the role of the United Nations, international terrorism, non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and non-traditional threats.
4. The Leaders shared concern over complicated political and security developments in the world since ASEM 4. In this connection, a number of Leaders raised the issues of Iraq, the Korean Peninsular, Taiwan, etc. The Leaders held that these developments have presented both opportunities and challenges to peace and development of all countries and agreed that peace and cooperation remained a prevailing thrust.
5. The Leaders highlighted international terrorism as a serious threat to peace, security and sustainable development. They therefore agreed to further intensify ASEM cooperation in the fight against terrorism.
6. The Leaders emphasized the need for close coordination to deal with new global challenges, such as the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, organized crimes, drug trafficking, money laundering, infectious diseases including HIV/AIDS, SARS, environmental degradation, illegal immigration, etc.
7. The Leaders were of the view that to cope with these new global challenges, it is necessary to have a common approach through extensive and intensive dialogues, culturally as well, and close cooperation based on international laws, mutual understanding, equality and mutual benefit. The Leaders agreed that the United Nations should play the leading role in preserving international peace and security as well as in addressing the pressing issues as noted in the Millennium Declaration. They emphasized that the UN, including the Security Council, should be reformed so that its noble tasks be effectively carried out.
8. The Leaders also agreed on the need to further strengthen cooperation between Asia and Europe, thus contributing to creating a favourable peaceful and stable environment for development in the two continents and the world over.
Source: http://www.asem5.gov.vn/detail_new.asp?id=196&langid=2&menuid=87&curentmenuid=87
Second Closed Session of the Heads of Delegations to ASEM 5
1. In the afternoon of 8th October 2004, at the International Convention Center (ICC), the ASEM Leaders held the second closed session under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Phan Van Khai.
2. Under the overarching theme of "Promoting the Asia-Europe Economic Partnership in the Context of Globalization and Open Regionalism", the Leaders discussed various issues, ranging from macro-economic issues to measures to strengthen the Asia-Europe economic partnership and to promote the economic ties between business community and the Governments, thereby facilitating ASEM strong linkages with the business circle.
3. The Leaders agreed that there exist great potentials for cooperation between the two continents, which have not yet been fully tapped. The optimization of these potentials will help ensure the sustainable development of ASEM members.
4. To further promote the inter-regional trade and investment, the Leaders agreed to deepen the existing cooperation within the Trade Facilitation Action Plan, the Investment Promotion Action Plan and other forms, strengthening the partnership between the government and the private sector, and enhancing dialogue on areas of common interest.
5. The Leaders agreed to further strengthen dialogue, cooperation and coordination in the financial area in order to cope with possible financial disturbances and to support broad-based and sustainable growth in Asia and Europe in the future.
6. The Leaders further agreed to expand cooperation in areas of common interest, such as information & communication technology and knowledge-based economy, energy, transport, tourism, intellectual property rights, small & medium enterprises; dialogue on employment and reduction of development gap among ASEM members, etc. The Leaders expressed concern over high oil prices that could slow down regions` economic growth, and stressed the importance of enhanced cooperation, the increase in energy efficiency and the research of sources of renewable energy.
7. The Leaders reaffirmed their commitment to an open and fair multilateral trading system under the World Trade Organization (WTO) and agreed to further strengthen ASEM collaboration and coordination on WTO-related issues for a successful conclusion of the Doha Round. In this connection, they reiterated their strong support for an early accession of Lao PDR and Vietnam into the WTO. They also welcomed initiatives for economic integration based on open and non-discriminatory regionalism and consistent with WTO rules.
8. The Leaders appreciated significant recommendations submitted by the ASEM Task Force and welcomed those recommendations by the 9th Asia-Europe Business Forum (AEBF 9), which set out measures for further promoting economic cooperation between the two continents. They therefore tasked Ministers to examine the above-mentioned recommendations and report to the Leaders at the next Summit.
9. After the Session, the Leaders had a meeting with representatives of the ASEM Task Force and delegates of AEBF 9 in Hanoi.
Third Closed Session of the Heads of Delegations to ASEM 5
1. In the morning of 9th October 2004, the third closed session of the Heads of Delegations to ASEM 5 was held under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Phan Van Khai.
2. Under the theme "Cultural Diversity and National Cultures in the Age of Information Technology and Globalisation", the Leaders had an intensive discussion ranging from dialogues on cultures and civilisations to unity in diversity, measures to enhance cultural cooperation and interaction between the two continents, the role of education, information technology in preserving national cultural identity, etc.
3. In his introductory remarks, Prime Minister Phan Van Khai stressed that Asia and Europe are age-long cradles of splendid cultures and civilisations. Prime Minister Phan Van Khai stated that such emerging factors as globalisation and the rapid advances of science and technology have offered new opportunities for further development of cultural interaction, at the same time, presented new challenges. He therefore emphasized the pressing need to optimize the great pontential of cultural cooperation between the two continents.
4. The Leaders underlined that cultural diversity is not only the common heritage of humanity but also a source of innovation, inspiration and an important driving force for economic progress and social development of human society, enhancing harmony, tolerance, dialogue and cooperation. They agreed to promote dialogues among cultures and civilisations on the basis of mutual respect and equality, reinforce unity in diversity and preserve national cultural identities in the context of information technology and globalisation, while rejecting the imposition and discrimination of culture values. The Leaders considered cultural dialogue and cooperation an important measure to help prevent potential conflicts, promote mutual understanding and trust, thus consolidating peace, security and cooperation for development of the world.
5. The Leaders emphasized the great potentials of cultural cooperation in ASEM. They noted with satisfaction the cultural activities undertaken by ASEM members over the past years, especially the outcome of the 1st ASEM Conference on Cultures and Civilizations in Beijing in December 2003 and requested the 2nd Conference, scheduled to be held in Paris in 2005, to work out measures to further promote ASEM dialogue and cooperation in this important field. The Leaders appreciated the important work carried out by the Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF) to foster people-to-people, cultural and intellectual exchanges between Asia and Europe.
6. The Leaders agreed that ASEM should implement measures to promote dialogue among cultures and civilizations, with priorities given to education programmes, exchanges for the youth and young leaders, exchange of ideas and knowledge, etc. They reaffirmed their commitment to pursue continued dialogue within the UNESCO in the course of ongoing negotiations on a draft Convention on Cultural Diversity, thus further strengthening international cultural cooperation.
Source: http://www.asem5.gov.vn/detail_new.asp?id=202&langid=2&menuid=87&curentmenuid=87