Speech, General Affairs and External Relations, Finland´s EU Presidency
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Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen at the Closing Ceremony of the Asem Summit
Your Excellencies, Distinguished Colleagues, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Our two-day meeting is drawing to its end. I truly feel that this has been a historic meeting.
First of all, our partnership has celebrated its tenth anniversary. A decade ago, a new era started in Asia-Europe relations. In the wake of globalisation and ever-growing global interdependence, ASEM has become the engine for stronger relations between our two regions in all fields. Ten years of dialogue and cooperation provide us with a very solid foundation and allow us to set clear guidelines for the future.
We need to keep up this work to reinforce our partnership, and keep in mind ASEM's open and evolutionary character. The Helsinki Summit has paved the way for a significant widening of the process. We have made an important decision on enlargement of the ASEM partnership. We warmly welcome Bulgaria and Romania, as acceding countries on the European side, and India, Pakistan, Mongolia and the ASEAN Secretariat on the Asian side. I personally very much look forward to welcoming these new partners when we meet in two years' time. Their inclusion shows that ASEM is a dynamic process and continues to attract new partners.
The Summit has furthermore contributed to an important deepening of our partnership. In keeping with the true ASEM spirit, we have held open, informal and frank discussions on many issues. I firmly believe that our deliberations have brought both regions closer together in defining joint responses to global challenges - the overarching motto of this Summit. In addition to the Chairman's Statement, which reflects our discussions, the Summit has adopted two important declarations. The ASEM 6 Declaration on Climate Change sends a strong signal to the world that ASEM intends to tackle the threat that climate change poses to sustainable development. This is ASEM at its best. The Helsinki Declaration on the Future of ASEM sets out general principles for taking the ASEM process forward and make our partnership even stronger.
Your Excellencies, Distinguished Colleagues, Ladies and Gentlemen,
In the closing stages of this Summit I would like to thank you all for your valuable contributions.
Before giving the floor to the Chinese Premier, as host of the next ASEM Summit, I propose that we first look back to the very beginnings of our partnership. Ten years ago, leaders from both regions attended the inaugural ASEM meeting in Bangkok, Thailand - the first landmark in ASEM's history. I would therefore now like to invite Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra of Thailand, as host of the inaugural Summit, to share with us some retrospective remarks.
In two years from now we will meet again in Beijing. I am convinced that our next host, China, will ensure that the Asia-Europe partnership continues to enhance dialogue and cooperation between our regions. I would now like to invite Premier Wen Jiabao to give his closing remarks, looking ahead to ASEM 7.
I am sure that the job of organising our next meeting is in good hands, and I look forward to the next Summit. The time has now come to formally close this Summit. As the host of the Sixth Asia-Europe Meeting I thank you very much for your attendance and participation.
Our two-day meeting is drawing to its end. I truly feel that this has been a historic meeting.
First of all, our partnership has celebrated its tenth anniversary. A decade ago, a new era started in Asia-Europe relations. In the wake of globalisation and ever-growing global interdependence, ASEM has become the engine for stronger relations between our two regions in all fields. Ten years of dialogue and cooperation provide us with a very solid foundation and allow us to set clear guidelines for the future.
We need to keep up this work to reinforce our partnership, and keep in mind ASEM's open and evolutionary character. The Helsinki Summit has paved the way for a significant widening of the process. We have made an important decision on enlargement of the ASEM partnership. We warmly welcome Bulgaria and Romania, as acceding countries on the European side, and India, Pakistan, Mongolia and the ASEAN Secretariat on the Asian side. I personally very much look forward to welcoming these new partners when we meet in two years' time. Their inclusion shows that ASEM is a dynamic process and continues to attract new partners.
The Summit has furthermore contributed to an important deepening of our partnership. In keeping with the true ASEM spirit, we have held open, informal and frank discussions on many issues. I firmly believe that our deliberations have brought both regions closer together in defining joint responses to global challenges - the overarching motto of this Summit. In addition to the Chairman's Statement, which reflects our discussions, the Summit has adopted two important declarations. The ASEM 6 Declaration on Climate Change sends a strong signal to the world that ASEM intends to tackle the threat that climate change poses to sustainable development. This is ASEM at its best. The Helsinki Declaration on the Future of ASEM sets out general principles for taking the ASEM process forward and make our partnership even stronger.
Your Excellencies, Distinguished Colleagues, Ladies and Gentlemen,
In the closing stages of this Summit I would like to thank you all for your valuable contributions.
Before giving the floor to the Chinese Premier, as host of the next ASEM Summit, I propose that we first look back to the very beginnings of our partnership. Ten years ago, leaders from both regions attended the inaugural ASEM meeting in Bangkok, Thailand - the first landmark in ASEM's history. I would therefore now like to invite Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra of Thailand, as host of the inaugural Summit, to share with us some retrospective remarks.
In two years from now we will meet again in Beijing. I am convinced that our next host, China, will ensure that the Asia-Europe partnership continues to enhance dialogue and cooperation between our regions. I would now like to invite Premier Wen Jiabao to give his closing remarks, looking ahead to ASEM 7.
I am sure that the job of organising our next meeting is in good hands, and I look forward to the next Summit. The time has now come to formally close this Summit. As the host of the Sixth Asia-Europe Meeting I thank you very much for your attendance and participation.
