Diplomatic World_nummer 58_Online

Asia and Europe need to unleash greater potential. Many
Asian and European countries have increased input in
connectivity and made good progress. China has put
forward the Belt and Road Initiative, and the EU has
released a strategy for connecting Europe and Asia.
To increase Eurasian connectivity, apart from bilateral
partnerships, ASEM as a multilateral mechanism has a
crucial role to play as well. We need to strive for early
harvests in such priority areas as trade and investment
facilitation, sustainable development, digital economy, and
people-to-people exchanges. We could also explore more
opportunities in such future-oriented areas as clean energy,
ecological protection, smart technology and urbanization.
respect for such differences. For this to happen, cultural
exchanges and communication are critically important.
Thanks to the widespread use of information technology,
people-to-people exchanges could be much more diverse,
engaging and convenient than before. We must act together
to ensure that our cooperation is always of the people, by
the people and for the people.
At the upcoming summit, China stands ready to join
hands with other ASEM members to add to the sense of
togetherness and the spirit of partnership, and make a
positive contribution to more substantial cooperations
between Asia and Europe.
Asia and Europe need to harness the strength of people.
The 53 ASEM members vary from one another due to
different historical and national conditions. Yet, the longterm
development of ASEM would not be possible without
(The author is Ambassador Extraordinary and
Plenipotentiary and Head of Mission of the People’s
Republic of China to the European Union.)
ASEM
GLOBAL PARTNERS FOR GLOBAL CHALLENGES
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