Date of release : 03-05-2005

Policy area : General Affairs and External Relations

Event : Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) of Foreign Ministers

On 6-7 May 2005, Jean Asselborn, Minister for Foreign Affairs and current President of the Council of the European Union, will take part in an Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM)* of Foreign Ministers in Kyoto, Japan.

As part of the larger theme chosen for this 7^th Ministerial Meeting – “Deepening the dialogue between Asia and Europe on global challenges – Ministers will discuss strengthening multilateralism, the reform of the United Nations, security threats (including terrorism, the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and international organised crime, as well as the situation in the Korean peninsula, Burma/Myanmar and the Middle East. Participants are also expected to address the issue of sustainable development.

On the margins of the meeting, the President of the Council will also hold talks – in an EU troika format – with U Nyan Win, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Burma/Myanmar.

* ASEM (Asia-Europe Meeting) is an informal intergovernmental forum of dialogue and cooperation. Its aim is to strengthen the partnership relations between Europe and Asia. Founded in March 1996, ASEM brings together the 25 member states of the European Union and 13 Asian countries (Burma/Myanmar, Brunei, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, Vietnam).