What is ASEM?

What is ASEM?

The Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) is an intergovernmental process established in 1996 to foster dialogue and cooperation between Asia and Europe. Presently it comprises 53 Partners: 30 European and 21 Asian countries, the European Union and the ASEAN Secretariat. ASEM addresses political, economic, social, cultural, and educational issues of common interest, in a spirit of mutual respect and equal partnership.

ASEM is an intergovernmental process which stands for 'Asia-Europe Meeting'. This is a large international conference attended by the 51 ASEM member countries together with the EU, and the ASEAN Secretariat. During Asia-Europe Meeting, political, economic, social, cultural, and educational issues of common interest are discussed extensively.

Background

  • After the collapse of the order of Cold War in 1990s, the international order rapidly reorganized among three regions: Asia, North America, and Europe.
  • Europe and North America have established close ties in various fields such as politics, economy, culture, and society, and the relationship between Asia and North America is also maintained through the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) established in 1989.
  • On the other hand, the relationship between Asia and Europe has been weak enough to be called a “missing link,” and the need to strengthen the relationship between Asia and Europe has emerged constantly.
  • In October 1994, Singapore proposed to create an ASEM, and the three countries, ASEAN and EU agreed to hold the Asia-Europe Summit.

Features

  • 1A place where participants can freely discuss politics, economy, society, culture and etc. as informal partners.
  • 2Rather than focusing on a specific field, ASEM equally discusses and cooperates in three areas of politics, economy, and socio-culture, and extensively cover all issues of Asia-Europe.
  • 3Putting emphasis on partnerships between countries and continent based on partnership, mutual respect and mutual benefits.
  • 4ASEM is a consultative body that emphasizes communications between Europe and Asia through exchanges between various social classes such as people-to-people, society-to-society, as well as cooperation among governments.

Partner Countries

  • ASEAN Secretariat
  • EU Commission
  • Australia
  • Austria
  • Bangladesh
  • Belgium
  • Brunei Darussalam
  • Bulgaria
  • Cambodia
  • China
  • Croatia
  • Cyprus
  • Czech Republic
  • Denmark
  • Estonia
  • Finland
  • France
  • Germany
  • Greece
  • Hungary
  • India
  • Indonesia
  • Ireland
  • Italy
  • Japan
  • Kazakhstan
  • Korea
  • Laos
  • Latvia
  • Lithuania
  • Luxembourg
  • Malaysia
  • Malta
  • Mongolia
  • Myanmar
  • Netherlands
  • New Zealand
  • Norway
  • Pakistan
  • Philippines
  • Poland
  • Portugal
  • Romania
  • Russia
  • Singapore
  • Slovakia
  • Slovenia
  • Spain
  • Sweden
  • Switzerland
  • Thailand
  • England
  • Vietnam

Relevant ministries in ASEM Partners

Continent Nation Department Website
EUROPE EU European Commission visit website
European External Action Service (EEAS) visit website
Poland Ministry of Labour & Social Policy visit website
Sweden Ministry of Health and Social Affairs visit website
Kazakhstan Ministry of Health care and Social Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan visit website
Romania Ministry of Labor, Family, Social Protection and Elderly visit website
Portugal Ministry of Labour, Solidarity and Social Security visit website
Germany Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth visit website
Belgium Federal Public Service (FPS) Health, Food Chain Safety and Environment visit website
Switzerland Swiss Federal Social Insurance Office visit website
Finland Ministry of Social Affairs and Health visit website
France Ministry of Social Affairs, Health visit website
Greece Ministry of Foreign Affairs visit website
Slovakia Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs and Family visit website
Denmark Ministry of Health and the Elderly Affairs visit website
Czech Republic Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs visit website
Spain Ministry of Health, Social Service and Equality visit website
Netherlands Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport visit website
New Zealand Ministry of Social Development visit website
Russia Ministry of Labour and Social Protection visit website
England Department of Health and Social Care visit website
Ireland Department of Health visit website
Hungary Ministry of Human Capacities visit website
Austria Federal Ministry of Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection visit website
Luxembourg Ministry of Family Affairs, Solidarity, Living Together and Reception of Refugees visit website
Malta Ministry for Social Policy and Children’s Rights visit website
Cyprus Ministry of Labour and Social Insurance visit website
Estonia Ministry of Social Affairs visit website
Slovenia Ministry of Labour, Family, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities visit website
Latvia Ministry of Welfare of the Republic of Latvia visit website
Lithuania Ministry of Social Security and Labour visit website
Croatia Ministry of Demographics, Family, Youth and Social Policy visit website
Italy Ministry of Health visit website
ASIA Korea National Human Rights Commission of Korea visit website
Ministry of Health and Welfare visit website
Indonesia Ministry of Social Affairs visit website
Japan Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare visit website
Malaysia Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development visit website
Vietnam Ministry for Social Policy and Children’s Rights visit website
Pakistan Ministry of Law, Justice and Human Rights visit website
Mongolia Ministry for Labour and Social Protection visit website
Australia Department of Health visit website
Thailand Ministry of Social Development and Human Security visit website
China National Health Commission of the People’s Repulic of China visit website
Cambodia Ministry of Social Affairs, Veteran and Youth Rehabilitation visit website
Philippines Department of Social Welfare and Development visit website
Singapore Ministry of Health visit website
India Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment visit website
Bangladesh Ministry of Social Welfare visit website
Laos Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare visit website
Brunei Darussalam Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports visit website
Myanmar Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement visit website
ASEAN Secretariat ASEAN Secretariat visit website