Europe sought a heightened global role with Asia’s emerging giants yesterday at talks ranging from trade to climate change between nations representing more than half the world’s population.
The two-day Asia-Europe Meeting of 46 nations, to be followed by separate EU summits with China and South Korea tomorrow, opens amid renewed tension between Beijing and Tokyo over disputed islands in the East China Sea.
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, indisputably star guest of the talks, could hold a face-to-face with Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan to ease the dispute, diplomats said.
For the European Union, the get-together of dozens of heads of state and government in the gilded Goya-hung halls of the Belgian royal palace, opens a window of opportunity to strengthen ties with the Asia region at a key time of fast global change.
“I am convinced that a strong Europe is irreplaceable,” Mr Wen told the Greek Parliament on the eve of his arrival in Brussels. “China wants to promote and strengthen strategic links with the European Union.”
During his visit to debt-crippled EU member Greece, the Chinese leader held out proof of willingness to bond with the 27-nation union - pledging to support the euro and maintain European bonds that are part of Chinese foreign exchange reserves, the world’s biggest.
“We have stayed at Europe’s side to overcome the crisis and to allow the recovery,” Mr Wen said.
Economic issues are expected to dominate the meeting of ASEM nations, which represent 60 per cent of the world’s population and global trade.
But the informal talks, accompanied by a slew of bilaterals, parallel visits to Nato headquarters and contacts between business leaders, will also touch on piracy at sea, terrorism, nuclear weapons, human rights and climate change. ASEM, which meets every two years, groups the EU, the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), China, Japan, South Korea, India, Pakistan and Mongolia, and new members Australia, New Zealand and Russia.
On the economic front, reform of the IMF will feature high on the agenda after the EU last week signalled willingness to cede some power at the international lender to emerging powers, which say Europe is over-represented.
Europe has been under pressure to offer a deal ahead of the November 11 start of the G-20 meeting of economic powers in Seoul and is ready to discuss giving up two of its nine seats while rotating others on the 24-member board.