Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM), 25-26 November 2021

Agenda highlights

The 13th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM13) will take place via video conference streamed from Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on 25 and 26 November 2021.

Marking ASEM's 25th anniversary, the meeting will bring together the leaders of the European and Asian member countries, the EU and the ASEAN Secretariat. Cambodia currently holds the rotating ASEM presidency.

Charles Michel, President of the European Council, and Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, will represent the EU. The Prime Minister of Slovenia, Janez Janša, will represent the rotating EU Council presidency. High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell will also take part in the meeting.

Usually a biennial event, the summit was scheduled to take place in 2020 but had to be postponed owing to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The overall theme of ASEM13 is 'strengthening multilateralism for shared growth'.

The sessions are expected to touch upon the following topics:

• COVID-19, health and socio-economic recovery
• multilateralism and the rules-based international order (including trade)
• climate change
• connectivity
• women, peace and security
• regional issues
• inclusive and sustainable growth and development

The ASEM13 summit will have three outcome documents:

• a statement by the chair
• a statement on post-COVID-19 socio-economic recovery
• a statement on ASEM connectivity

Preparations for ASEM13

At the European Council meeting on 21 and 22 October 2021, EU leaders discussed the preparations for ASEM13. In this context, they supported the EU strategy for cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region and invited the Council to ensure its swift implementation.

EU strategy for cooperation in the Indo-Pacific

In April 2021, the Council adopted conclusions on the EU strategy for cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region.

In September 2021, the European Commission and the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy issued a joint communication on the strategy.

Indicative programme

(all time indications CET)

Side events

Cambodia, as host country of ASEM13, has been holding a series of side events in the run-up to the summit.

Background

About ASEM

Established in 1996, the Asia-Europe Meeting is an informal platform for dialogue and cooperation between Asia and Europe.

With its 53 members (30 European and 21 Asian countries plus the EU and the ASEAN Secretariat), it is the biggest international leaders' gathering after the UN General Assembly. The European group within ASEM comprises the 27 EU member states as well as Norway, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.

25 years of ASEM

Activities

2021 marks the 25th anniversary of the ASEM process fostering dialogue and cooperation, mutual respect, and equal partnership between Asia and Europe.

ASEM Day

To celebrate ASEM's 25th anniversary, the EU in partnership with the Centre for Fine Arts-Brussels (BOZAR) and the Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF) hosted the ASEM Day virtual celebration on 7 March 2021.

High-Level Policy Dialogue

Josep Borrell, the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, gave a speech at the High-Level Policy Dialogue to mark ASEM's 25 anniversary and discuss common priorities for the future.

Previous meetings

ASEM Foreign Ministers' Meeting

The 14th Asia and Europe foreign ministers' meeting took place in Madrid, Spain, on 15 and 16 December 2019. It brought together foreign affairs ministers from European and Asian countries under the theme 'Asia and Europe: together for effective multilateralism'.

Previous summit

The 12th Asia-Europe Meeting, which was hosted by the European Union, took place in Brussels on 18 and 19 October 2018.

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