Asian-European meeting decides on closer relations

A meeting of the leaders of 38 countries of Europe and Asia 
was held in Hanoi October 8-9. This is the fifth meeting of the 
Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) to be held since the formation of the 
grouping in 1996.

This trade and dialogue grouping brings together countries with 
2.4 billion people, representing 37 percent of the world's 
population. Together they produce 46 percent of the world's Gross 
Domestic Product (GDP) and their trade amounts to 43 percent of 
world trade.

At the Hanoi meeting Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar (Burma) plus 
Hungary, Poland, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, the Czech Republic, 
Slovakia, Slovenia, Cyprus and Malta were admitted to the group.

The leaders discussed how ASEM could contribute to a multilateral 
approach to international relations, in particular the UN.

The political dialogue carried out in the past years between the 
two continents has deepened their mutual understanding on 
international and regional issues, the Middle East situation, 
international terrorism, development, social and rule of law 
issues.

The meeting in Hanoi adopted the "Hanoi Declaration on Closer 
ASEM Economic Partnership" and the "ASEM Declaration on Dialogue 
among Cultures and Civilisations".

Australia does not participate in the Asia-Europe meetings.