On 11-12 November 2013, 51 Foreign Ministers and high-level representatives from Asia and Europe attended the 11th Asia-Europe Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (ASEM FMM11) in Delhi-NCR, India. The ASEM FMM 11 was inaugurated by Honourable Shri Mohammad Hamid Ansari, Vice President of India.
Under the theme of “Bridge to Partnership for Growth & Development,” the Ministers exchanged views on issues of common interests and concerns, i.e. economic growth and sustainable development and its challenges and opportunities in Asia and Europe, non-traditional security challenges, and international and regional issues. They also explored ways to deepen and broaden cooperation within the ASEM framework and the future of ASEM as the forum will celebrate the 20th Anniversary of its inception in 2016.
Secretary-General of ASEAN, H.E. Le Luong Minh, shared with ASEM Foreign Ministers ASEAN’s experience in promoting sustainable development and disaster management and response, including ASEAN’s efforts to provide humanitarian assistance to the victims of Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines. He also highlighted the importance of the ASEM framework to further advancing the partnership between and among the countries of the two continents of Asia and Europe, as well as complementing ASEAN’s Community building efforts.
The Asia-Europe Meeting is a forum for dialogue with the objective of strengthening the relationship between the two regions, in a spirit of mutual respect and equal partnership. ASEM partners are the 10 ASEAN Member States, the ASEAN Secretariat, 27 EU Member States, the European Commission as well as Australia, Bangladesh, China, India, Japan, Republic of Korea, Mongolia, New Zealand, Norway, Pakistan, Russia, and Switzerland.
On the occasion of ASEM FMM11, Secretary-General Minh also held bilateral meetings with H.E. Borge Brende, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Norway; H.E. Guido Westerwelle, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Germany; H.E. Titus Corlatean, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Romania; and H.E. Hugo Swire, Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs of the United Kingdom. The Secretary-General and the Ministers discussed ways and means to strengthen and advance cooperation and relationship between ASEAN and the four countries.
Source: http://www.asean.org/news/item/strengthening-of-asia-and-europe-ties-benefits-asean-community-building?category_id=27