Foreign Minister Maris Riekstins emphasises significance of European-Asian dialogue for strengthening stability, economic prosperity and security in the world

On 25 May 2009, 9th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) Foreign Ministers' Meeting opened in Hanoi. During the first day of the event the ASEM foreign ministers discussed co-operation opportunities for handling the global financial and economic crisis, as well as exchanged opinions on current regional developments in Europe and Asia.

Foreign Minister Maris Riekstins addressed the ASEM foreign ministers about the development of the EU policies in the field of foreign relations and about benefits yielded by the recently established Eastern Partnership to the EU neighbouring countries in Eastern Europe and South Caucasus. Minister Riekstins placed a special emphasis on new association agreements, a closer co-operation in the field of energy security as well as visa liberalisation for the member countries of the partnership. The minister presented his perception on the current political and economic situation in the partnership countries at the time when the global economic and financial crisis threatens democracy in Ukraine and in Moldova. Minister Riekstins also stressed that the political instability in Georgia as well as the unresolved frozen conflicts, including the issue of Nagorno Karabakh, affect security and stability both in Europe and in Asia. "The European-Asian dialogue on topical political processes has a vital significance for the promotion, by joint efforts, of security, stability and economic prosperity also beyond the borders of the European Union and Asia," the Latvian Foreign Minister noted.

Within the framework of their discussion, the ministers of the EU and Asian countries shared the opinion that the situation in Afghanistan and Pakistan has a significant impact on global security. Foreign ministers reviewed recent events in Sri Lanka, Burma (Myanmar) as well as the threat to the situation in the Korean Peninsula after the nuclear test performed by North Korea. The ministers exchanged opinions regarding the situation in the Middle East, expressing their support to a two-country solution.

Taking part in the discussion on co-operation for coping with the global economic and financial downturn was Akira Ariyoshi, Director of the International Monetary Fund's Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, who noted that global output was expected to increase only very gradually over 2010. Certain risks however existed which could delay the stabilisation of the situation, for instance, the developments in the banking situation in Europe. In their discussion, the ministers stressed that countries, by working together and opposing protectionism could better succeed in overcoming the crisis. 

On the second day of the Asian and European foreign ministers' meeting, a discussion has been planned on the ASEM co-operation facing modern-day challenges, for instance climate change, infectious diseases and energy security. Within the framework of the event, Foreign Minister Maris Riekstins is to meet with foreign ministers of Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam on bilateral basis.

The ASEM co-operation was launched in 1996 with an aim of developing partnership between Europe and Asia. ASEM includes ten member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Burma (Myanmar), the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam), Japan, South Korea, China, India, Pakistan, Mongolia, and 27 EU Member States, as well as the European Commission and the ASEN Secretariat.

(end of text)