Asean and a more pro-active Asem

The final conclusion of the above  article was thought-provoking. Asean countries  are confronted with seismic geopolitical changes and will have to weigh carefully how they should react. The solution would be to walk a delicate line between the rival superpowers.

This offers ground for a fundamental question.To what extent Asia - Europe Meeting (Asem), in which all Asean members and its Secretariat are represented, can be more pro-active and  instrumental in leading the countries of the  two continents to an increased mutually beneficial  strategic engagement ? The answer is still on the waiting list. 

Hopefully, the  9th Asem Summit  scheduled tomorrow in Vientiane, with the theme ‘Friends for Peace, Partners for Prosperity’, will try to facilitate  and accelerate a  relevant reply to the above question.

On substance, the Vientiane Summit will deal with significant regional and international issues of common concern for Asian and European countries, including food and energy security, sustainable development, financial and economic crises, climate change, natural disaster responses, socio-cultural cooperation, and future directions of Asem activities. However, with no formal Asem Secretariat and no coordination mechanism for follow-up activities it will be very difficult to further consolidate the multi-faceted development of relations between the  two continents.

Innovative diplomatic efforts  are needed both from Asean and the European Union to find a clear, workable organisational identity for Asem. Creativity is vital to give tangibility and visibility to Asem’s ideals in the years to come. 

Ioan Voicu