The Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of Luxembourg, Jean Asselborn, hosted the 12th meeting of foreign ministers of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM FMM 12) which took place on 5 and 6 November 2015 in Luxembourg, as part of the Luxembourg Presidency of the Council of the European Union.
ASEM, established in 1996, consists of 51 partner countries in Asia and Europe, as well as two international organisations, namely the European Union and the secretariat of the Association of South-East Asia (ASEAN). ASEM, which will celebrate its 20th anniversary next year at a summit in Mongolia, aims to deepen relations between the two continents at the political, economic, social and cultural levels.
The 12th meeting of foreign ministers in Luxembourg ASEM was held under the theme "Working together for a sustainable and secure future."
European and Asian ministers discussed the challenges posed by climate change, prior to the climate conference in Paris (COP21) in December 2015. The Minister Asselborn stressed the importance of achieving "an ambitious agreement, comprehensive and legally binding at Paris."
The meeting of foreign ministers Eurasian also addressed the topic of the sustainable development programme for 2030 of the UN and the various means available to partners in ASEM to achieve sustainable development goals.
Given the importance of economic relations between Europe and Asia, discussions also focused on the theme of connectivity between the two continents. ASEM, an institution that already connects the continents at the political level should, according to Jean Asselborn, "lead to better interconnection of our transportation and communications networks, increased transfer of new technologies, in enhanced collaboration between forces and an increase of our trade."
Ministers also discussed major issues of the international political agenda, particularly the Middle East, the Iranian nuclear agreement, the fight against terrorism, migration and the security situation in Europe and Asia. The ministers agreed on the need for closer cooperation between Asia and Europe partners to ensure peace and international security.
On the sidelines of the meeting, Minister Asselborn took the opportunity offered by the presence of many of his Asian counterparts to conduct bilateral meetings.
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