National (as of 11:49 PM)

ASEM meet to benefit RP, others

By LOUI GALICIA
ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau

The 8th Asia-Europe Meeting of Foreign Ministers Meeting closed in Hamburg last month with encouraging and meaningful discussions for all member countries, the Philippines included.

At the two-day meeting chaired by the EU Presidency, German Federal Foreign Minister Frank Walter Steinmeier on May 28-29, the foreign ministers discussed a broad range of issues of common interest.

These issues included energy and climate change, counter terrorism, non-proliferation, world trade and the United Nations, issues on Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq and the Korean peninsula, the Middle East, recent developments in Asia and Europe. EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana said the meetings were interesting.

“Very interesting, you learn. You don’t know with this kind but you learn something. You abandon this meeting thinking that you’ve completed what you talked. Now this is one of those meetings.

The atmosphere has been splendid. With 46 countries, this year we have had a lot of discussions on difficult issues,” Solana said.

The ministers agreed to continue to make the utmost use of the ASEM dialogue and cooperation, being a unique, practical, flexible and comprehensive platform for the Asia-Europe partnership in view of finding joint responses to global challenges.

Pakistani foreign minister Khurshid Kasuri was happy that one of the topics discussed is the situation in Afghanistan.

“I think it’s a good idea that we’re meeting with common friends. Most of the countries represented in the G-8 have a fundamental interest in peace and stability in that area (Afghanistan) and nobody could have a greater interest in that than we have, so I think it’s a good forum,” Kasuri said.

Steinmeier said that ASEM. which is only on its 11th year, is still very young but it becomes a very big venue for EU and Asia to hold 60 bilateral meetings. He said that it's very important that Asia and Europe can speak with one voice.

Steinmeier also said that globalization has both a good and bad side but that it offers an opportunity for all because a fair structure is needed in the world.

One of the biggest discussions is between the EU and China on climate change.

Steinmeier said that the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s deadline of 15 years to put their act together remains a very big challenge otherwise it will be catastrophic for the world.

China's Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said that it appreciates the efforts of the EU, particularly Germany, in its part to respond to climate change issues.

But he passed on to the developed countries with sophisticated and advanced technology the responsibility to cut emissions and help the underdeveloped countries fight climate change.

“With regard to the efforts in terms of dealing with climate change and environmental protection, our view is that we should work together to make sure that the development needs of countries will be met and this is one of the key ways to improve the people’s living standards,” Yang said.

“On the other hand the environment is very important and for sustainable development one has to give up those efforts to environmental protection and to cope with climate change to handle the issue," Yang said.

He added: "All countries should work together in terms of exploring new sources of energy or alternative energy or clean energy. In this respect, perhaps the developed countries can do more.”

He said that between 2006 and 2010, the per unit gdp will be down by about 20 percent and that there will be a reduction on the total amount of pollutants by about 10 percent.

The Philippines was represented by Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Erlinda Basilio.

She reported on the positive outcome of the 2nd East Asia Summit which was held in Cebu where the Cebu Declaration of East Asian Energy Security was signed.

The Cebu declaration recognizes the urgent need to address global warming and climate change, the need to strengthen renewable energy development such as the sustainable development of bio-fuels as well as goals and measures as spelt out in the declaration.

The Cebu summit had agreed to initiate concrete projects in priority areas of cooperation, namely energy, education, finance, avian flu, national disaster mitigation and poverty reduction.

ASEAN secretary-general Ong Keng Yong gave a very concise view to ABS-CBN Europe, on the progress of the Association of South East Asian Nations. “We have been doing quite a lot of things and I hope all these things can be done effectively and give us the result that we wanted,” Ong said.

Cho Won-il, Asia Europe Foundation executive director, presented to the foreign ministers, ASEF’s achievements in the last ten years where it has played an active role in promoting dialogue on major issues such as human rights, interfaith, youth exchanges, art, culture and media cooperation.

China, seeing ASEF’s significant role, announced an increase by 20 percent of its contribution to the foundation beginning this year.

China said it recognizes the need to fund the organization which puts together the 45 ASEM partners representing 50 percnt of the world GDP, 58 percent of the world's population and 60 or world trade.

SOURCE: WWW.ABS-CBNNEWS.COM


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