Asian, European FMs call for broader cooperation on global issues

Asian, European foreign ministers on Tuesday called for broader cooperation between the two regions on international issues after a two-day meeting in Hamburg.

Foreign ministers from over 40 Asian, European countries discussed some of the world's most burning issues, including climate change, energy, Iran's nuclear crisis as well as the violence upsurge in the Middle East.

The leaders on Tuesday pledged cooperation on climate change and stressed the need for an international climate protection accord to be agreed before the Kyoto Protocol expires in 2012.

"The Meeting stressed the need for a global and comprehensive post 2012 climate regime to tackle climate change, in accordance with the principles of common but differentiated responsibilities, " said a chairman statement issued at the end of the meeting.

The ministers underlined the importance of the UN International Climate Conference to be held in December 2007 in Bali, Indonesia, designed to kick off the international negotiations on the new climate deal.

Negotiations "should be completed by 2009 at the latest" so that the new climate deal can be readily available before the Kyoto Protocol expires in 2012, said the statement.

Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi told the meeting that the developed countries should continue to cut their greenhouse gas emissions and honor their commitment of providing financial assistance and technology transfer to developing countries,

China, for its part as a developing country, will do its best to strike a balance between economic growth and environmental protection, Yang said.

Meanwhile, the ministers strongly urged Iran to comply with all relevant UN Security Council resolution and suspend its enrichment related activities.

The leaders further recalled the urgent need for a "diplomatic solution and a comprehensive arrangement" with Iran, while respecting Iran's right to peaceful nuclear energy under safeguard and the Non-Proliferation Treaty.

The ministers also underlined the importance of continuing the process of the Six Party Talks, which is considered as the most viable mechanism for peacefully resolving the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsular.

The leaders reaffirmed their support for a negotiated settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict based on existing agreements, including the principles laid down in the Road Map. The ministers also voiced concern over the continued instability in Iraq and Afghanistan, calling for more efforts to be made to bring peace and stability to these countries.

German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, whose country holds the rotating EU presidency noted that the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM), which has 45 members including China, Japan, South Korea, 10 ASEAN nations and 27 EU nations, account for 58 percent of the global population, 60 percent of the world trade and about 50 percent of the world GDP.

"This is the level of influence that we can and should use to an even greater degree in international politics," he said.

Six ASEM new members -- India, Pakistan, Mongolia, Bulgaria, Romania and the ASEAN Secretariat -- participated in the gathering for the first time. Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said Asia and Europe need to "improve the effectiveness and efficiency" of the dialogue to solve the global issues as the two regions have become increasingly inter-dependent upon each other.

"We should be visionary and innovative and endeavor to raise Asia-Europe cooperation to a higher level in the next decade," said the minister.

Yang proposed that Asia and Europe should further promote multilateralism and enhance political dialogue and mutual trust.

"We should increase exchange of views and consultation in the United Nations and other multilateral institutions to increase the influence of Asia and Europe in international affairs," he said.