ASEM Convenes Today in Brussels
Europe is looking for a way to foster its relation with the Asian giants on talks held on Monday over many subjects, ranging from trade to climate changes, between nations that represent more than a half of the population of the whole world.
Europe and Asia commence today a round of two-day Asia-Europe meeting (ASEM) of 46 countries, followed by separate meetings between European Union and China and South Korea.
These talks come at a time when Beijing and Tokyo are at the odds after the conflict related to the boat collision in the East China Sea (which is no more than a pretext for fostering their own agenda of taking over the natural resources of the sea in question).
The Prime Minister of China Wen Jiaobao, invited to the talks, may have a face-to-face meeting with the Japanese counterpart, Naoto Kan, in hopes of reducing the tension between the two countries.
European Union representatives consider that the gathering of so many nations in Belgium is a great window of opportunity for the union especially at a time like this when economy is going through problems all over the world.
The Chinese PM told the Greek parliament in his turn before arriving to Brussels that a “strong European Union is irreplaceable.” China, he went on to say, is promoting a relation to the European Union.
He maintained the Beijing regime’s is willing to bond with the nations that compose the EU, and that it will sustain the Euro and maintain European bonds as part of Chinese foreign exchange reserve.
“We have stayed at Europe’s side and helped them recover from the economic crisis,” Chinese PM said.
It is expected that this meeting of ASEM will be dominated by economic issues, since the parties involved in them
cover some 60 percent of the world population. Visits to the NATO headquarters and bilateral meetings will also provide the opportunity to touch subjects like terrorism, sea piracy, climate changes or human rights.
ASEM meets every two years and gathers the European Union, the Association of South-Eastern Asia Nations (ASEAN), China, Japan, South Korea, India, Mongolia, Pakistan, and new members like Russia, New Zealand and Australia.
A issue is the power sharing in the international organizations. Thus, Europe, who had been accused of holding to much power and representation in organizations such as G-20, and was under pressure to offer a deal before November 11, when G-20 will convene on Seoul to approach world economic topics.
Europe is ready to share two of the nine seats at this meeting.
At the G-20 meeting, Australia desires to see the International Monetary Fund restructured, Julia Gillard, Australian PM told the press after a meeting with Jose Manuel Barroso, president of EU Commission.
Some tension may arise over the late statements made by the EU and the U.S.A. that China is deliberately keeping its currency undervalued to gain trade advantage. And that is not the only cause for tension. The issues concerning the human rights could spark flareups between the parties, in spite of the fact that Chinese part seems to be coming with the best intentions at heart.
On the matter of climate changes it is expected that the parties to share in the idea of cutting the polluting emissions, although hopes re not to high that a binding deal will be closed on this matter.11
