From 6 -7 June 201, the Republic of Hungary will host the 10th Asia — Europe Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (ASEM FMM 10) at the Royal Palace, Godollo, Budapest. This gathering, under the theme “Working Together on Non—Traditional Security Challenges”, will be attended by 48 member states from Europe and Asia, as well as representatives from the ASEAN Secretariat and the European Union. Heading the Thai delegation at this meeting will be Mr. Kasit Piromya, Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Thailand’s participation in the said meeting is considered an opportune time for Thailand to show European and Asian friends the country’s readiness to actively engage and deal with non—traditional security challenges, be they issues of food and energy security, climate change or natural disaster management. Thailand attaches great importance in enhancing cooperation to overcome the above challenges at all levels - bilateral, regional, international levels as well as at ASEM.
As an ASEM member, Thailand has, throughout the years, played a significant role in the fields of humanitarian assistance and natural disaster management. For this meeting, Thailand is ready to propose her U-Tapao Airbase as the centre for natural disaster management and regional training in order to support and complement the ASEAN Coordination Centre for Humanitarian Assistance (AHA) in Indonesia, as well as the food reserve stock of the World Food Program (WFP) at Subang Airport, Malaysia.
The above proposal by Thailand reiterates Thailand’s active role in the field of food security, whereby Thailand has volunteered to be the “ASEM Issue-based Leader” in this area at the 7th Asia — Europe Meeting held in October 2008 in Beijing. Thailand also hosted the ASEM High—Level Conference on Food Security from 9 -11 May 2011 in Chiangmai in order to step up cooperation and exchange information among the ASEM member states.
Notwithstanding this, the Foreign Ministers as well as heads of delegations from Asia and Europe will also exchange views on crucial international issues of mutual concern, covering 1) regional issues: like the situation in the Middle East and North Africa, as well as developments in Europe and Asia 2) global issues like sustainable development, poverty and nuclear disarmament 3) economic recovery and 4) future cooperation within ASEM and ASEM’s engagement with the wider public.
To note, ASEM was established in 1996 as a forum for Asian and European leaders to meet and discuss ways and means to further strengthen and expand relations, as well as to better promote understanding among themselves and between the two regions. An informal dialogue meeting, member states can organize activities and cooperation based on their expertise. At present, ASEM consists of 46 members — 27 from Europe, 16 from Asia, 3 new members, and 2 regional organizations (namely the ASEAN Secretariat and the European Union), bringing the total number of ASEM members to 48.
For further information, please contact the Press Division, Department of Information, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Tel.02-6435170, Fax.02-6435169, E-mail: div0704@mfa.go.th