On 5 and 6 November 2015, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of Luxembourg will be hosting the 12th ASEM Foreign Ministers' Meeting (ASEM FMM12) under the Luxembourg Presidency of the Council of the European Union.
The ASEM was established in 1996 and now consists of 51 partner countries in Asia and Europe, as well as the two international organisations of the European Union and the Secretariat of the Assocaition of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). ASEM has as its aim the strengthening of political, economic, social and cultural relations between the two continents.
The 12th meeting of Foreign Ministers of ASEM is being held under the theme 'Working Together for a Sustainable and Secure Future', and will involve EU ministers and their Asian counterparts examining particular challenges related to climate change. Issues to be addressed therefore include the climate conference in Paris (COP21) in December 2015, the 2030 Sustainable Development Programme of the United Nations, the theme of connectivity and the future of the ASEM, which will be celebrating its 20th anniversary next year.
Ministers will also be exchanging view on major issues of the international political agenda, including the situation in the Middle East, Iran's nuclear situation, the fight against terrorism, migration and the security situation in Europe and Asia.
Minister Asselborn will also be conducting bilateral meetings with his Asian and European counterparts on the sidelines of the meeting.
Photo by European Union (L-R: Federica Mogherini, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs; Jean Asselborn, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs)
