Van Rompuy opens ASEM in Milan

MILAN, Oct 16 (KUNA) -- President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy inaugurated the 10th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) Summit here on Thursday, with the leaders of 53 European and Asian countries attending.
In a keynote speech, Van Rompuy said it is the first meeting for the European Union (EU) and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) at the continental level since 2007, emphasizing that Europe attaches much significance to its relations with the Asian bloc thanks to the latter's key role in Asia.
He said Asia has become one of the major European partners in trade, while the European Union is the largest foreign investor in Asia.
He added that EU-Asian relations have been further deepened and expanded over the last couple of years, especially through the exchange of high-level visits.
Van Rompuy pointed to efforts to develop bilateral cooperation in the fields of communication and response to crises and transnational crimes.
For his part, President of the European Commission Josأ© Manuel Barroso said the summit is a significant opportunity for European and Asian leaders to promote bilateral relations, adding that both blocs shoulder shared responsibility for creating a more prosperous, sustainable and fairer world.
He believed that a lot of things could be done should bilateral economic, environmental, social, cultural and educational partnership be reinforced.
The ASEM Summit gathers the heads of state and government of the 27 European countries and the European Commission, with their counterparts from 16 Asian countries plus the ASEAN Secretariat, and new entrants Australia, New Zealand and Russia.
The main topic of the summit is partnership for sustainable growth and security in the world.
The dialogue addresses issues concerning the three main pillars of ASEM and serves as the highest level of decision-making in the ASEM process.
It is held every second year in Asia and Europe alternatively starting in 1996 when Bangkok held the very first ASEM Summit.
The Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) was created in 1996 as a forum for dialogue and cooperation between Europe and Asia. (end) mn.mt