Leaders and foreign ministers from Asia and
Europe began negotiations Monday in the Lao capital of Vientiane ahead
of formal talks focusing on strengthening economic and political ties
between the two regions. The strength of Asia’s economies is a key lure
for European leaders dealing with Europe's economic and financial
problems. The summit of leaders of more than 50 Asian and European nations
officially admitted new members Bangladesh, Switzerland and Norway to
the Asia-Europe Meeting.
Key connections
European and Asian heads of state attending included leaders from
France, Italy and Russia, as well Presidents of the European Council and
European Commission. From Asia, China’s Premier Wen Jiabao and Japan’s
Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda are present, but are not expected to hold
meetings due to a row over disputed islands in the East China Sea
Mutually beneficial
The biennial Asia-Europe Meeting - or ASEM - comes against the backdrop
of Europe’s struggling economies faced with sharply lower growth and
high unemployment rates. Carl Thayer, a professor of politics at the University of New South
Wales, said Asia’s leaders will be looking for insights into the
European economic situation. “This time is the state of the European economy and the prospects for
its recovery because even though growth rates are picking up a bit in
East Asia - a stronger European recovery would lead to stronger growth
rates," said Thayer. "Finding out what’s going in the European market
will be important for the leaders to determine.”
Spotlighting China
China, in the midst of major leadership changes, also is a focus for
Europe, said Panitan Wattanayagorn, a political scientist from
Chulalongkorn University. “The rise of China; several European nations have been lately showing
interest and concern of the rise of China - whether or not China will be
more responsible in the economy of the world and political role of the
world. So there will be more dialogue on these issues also,” said
Wattanayagorn.
Analysts say European leaders also are
keen, however, to strengthen trade and investment ties with Asia and
especially China, in a bid to lift their troubled, faltering economies
out of recession.
