By Han Qiao

    HANOI, May 26 (Xinhua) -- The 9th Foreign Ministers' Meeting of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) closed in Hanoi on Tuesday, with stronger will from all participating parties to deepen the Asia-Europe partnership within the ASEM framework to tackle global challenges.

Foreign ministers and delegates from members of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) attend the 9th Foreign Ministers' Meeting of the ASEM in Hanoi, capital of Vietnam, May 25, 2009. The meeting opened here on Monday with the participation of foreign ministers and delegates from 45 ASEM members. (Xinhua/Huang Haimin) Photo Gallery>>>

    The meeting, first official foreign ministerial gathering of 45ASEM members since its second enlargement, passed a Chair's Statement.

    In the context of deepening global financial and economic crisis, the statement rejected protectionism, called for stronger cooperation among countries in the two continents and pinned the hope of economic recovery for next year.

    Rejecting protectionism

    After two-day discussion, ministers agreed that the ongoing global financial crisis has resulted in sharp reduction in capital flows and negatively affected economic development, particularly that of the developing countries.

    However, protectionist measures, increasingly seen as introducing or raising barriers to trade and investment by some countries, may provoke "retaliatory actions" and further harm world economy and delay its recovery, said ministers in the statement.

    During a closed session on strengthening cooperation to address global financial and economic crisis, ministers agreed to promote the international efforts towards an open and equitable multilateral system of trade and finance, according to a press release of the Vietnamese Foreign Ministry.

    Ministers at the meeting also called for enhancing market access for the exports of developing countries and promoting regional and inter-regional integration, said the statement.

    Ministers supported international financial institutions to create further lending capacity with more flexible financing policies to effectively assist countries affected by the crisis and prevent capital outflow of developing countries.

    Stronger cooperation within ASEM

    With the theme of "forging closer Asia-Europe partnership to address the financial and economic crisis and other global challenges," the meeting saw ministers hold several rounds of discussion on boosting trade and investment linkage during the two days.

    The ministers called for promoting cooperation in areas of mutual benefits including finance, transport, energy, science and technology, agriculture, forestry and fishery, education, sustainable urban development and tourism.

    The ASEM Foreign Ministers' Meeting is responsible for the overall coordination of the ASEM process. According to this year' s meeting, the First ASEM Transport Ministers' Meeting will be held in Lithuania in October this year. It will launch the ASEM dialogue on transport and contribute to trade linkage of the two continents.

    The meeting also agreed on the necessity for early resumption of the ASEM Economic Ministers' Meeting and encouraged full participation by all partners in such a meeting.

    Ministers affirmed their support for strengthened ASEM energy cooperation. Ministers supported the establishment of a stable, effective and transparent global energy market. Ministers welcomed the first ASEM Ministerial Conference on Energy to be held in Belgium next month.

    Ministers also encouraged the entrepreneurs to play more active role in ASEM economic cooperation, enhancing public-private partnership and promoting development of small and medium enterprises.

    The encouragement would be translated into action at the eighth ASEM Summit to be held in Brussels next year by a plan to hold a dynamic Asia-Europe Business Forum in parallel with the summit.

    Pin the hope for next year

    Ministers pinned the hope for economic recovery next year. They agreed that the growth prospects for both developed and developing countries for 2009 have deteriorated and the current situation could go deeper in some countries and regions.

    "It is possible that world economy might start recovering in 2010 with concerted efforts through close cooperation and coordination," said the statement. Backgrounder: Asia-Europe Foreign Ministers' Meeting

    HANOI, May 26 (Xinhua) -- Ministers attending the 9th Foreign Ministers' Meeting of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) here on Tuesday unanimously agreed to enhance political dialogue between Asia and Europe to advance mutual understanding and friendship.

    According to the Chair's Statement passed in the meeting, ministers reiterated their support for the progress made in ASEAN Community building, regional integration of East Asia and South Asia. Full story

ASEM Foreign Ministers' Meeting sees dialogue among cultures and civilizations necessary

    HANOI, May 26 (Xinhua) -- It is necessary to enhance dialogue among cultures and civilizations, said foreign ministers attending the ninth Foreign Ministers' Meeting (FMM 9) of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) in a statement passed during the two-day meeting which ended in Hanoi on Tuesday.

    According to the statement, the ministers welcomed Poland's initiative to host the fourth ASEM Culture Ministers' Meeting in 2010, underlining the importance of the debate on these issues, with a special emphasis on cultural heritage. Full story

9th ASEM Foreign Ministers' Meeting opens in Hanoi

    HANOI, May 25 (Xinhua) -- The 9th Foreign Ministers' Meeting of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) opened here on Monday with the participation of foreign ministers and delegates from 45 ASEM members in the two-day meeting.

    "The meeting sends out a strong message on the determination and responsibility of ASEM members to work together in overcoming the ongoing economic crisis," said Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung at the opening ceremony.   Full story

China willing to enhance education co-op with other ASEM members

    HANOI, May 14 (Xinhua) -- China is willing to strengthen education cooperation with other Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) members in a wide range of areas, said Chinese Vice Education Minister Hao Ping here on Thursday.

    Hao made the remarks in his speech at the Second Asia-Europe Education Ministers' Meeting that opened in Hanoi on Thursday.  Full story

ASEM Senior Officials' Meeting ends in Hanoi

    HANOI, May 24 (Xinhua) -- The Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) Senior Officials' Meeting ended in Hanoi on Sunday in preparation for the 9th ASEM Foreign Ministers' Meeting (FMM 9), scheduled to be held on May 25.

    Senior officials from 45 ASEM members discussed and agreed on the topics and program for the FMM 9 as well as the drafts of documents to be adopted at this meeting.  Full story

ASEM Asian Foreign Ministers' Meeting held in Hanoi

    HANOI, May 25 (Xinhua) -- The Asian Foreign Ministers' Meeting of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) was held in Hanoi on Monday, prior to the 9th ASEM Foreign Ministers' Meeting.

    The Asian foreign ministers welcomed foreign ministers and delegations from India, Mongolia and Pakistan for their first participation in this meeting.  Full story