Asia-Europe Meeting in Luxembourg: Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter presents Switzerland's viewpoint on climate change and disaster prevention
Bern, 03.11.2015 - On 5 November, Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter will attend the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM). This year's Foreign Ministers' Meeting will focus on the potential for more extensive cooperation between ASEM members, especially with a view to mitigating the impact of climate change. Since 2012, Switzerland has been a member of the intergovernmental association of 51 states and two organisations which is considered the most important platform for political dialogue, economic cooperation and social exchange between Europe and Asia.
The Foreign Ministers' Meeting of ASEM member states takes place every two years, alternately in Asia and Europe. The aim of the talks is to exchange views on issues and problems faced by Asia and Europe and engage in dialogue and mutual cooperation. At this year's meeting in Luxembourg, among the issues discussed will be the impact of climate change as a challenge for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR). While at the ministerial meeting, Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter will, among other things, take part in a plenary debate on this issue and deliver a speech. Bilateral talks with representatives of ASEM partners are also planned.
The Asia-Europe Meeting was launched in 1996 as an interregional discussion forum. Ever since, it has served as a platform for multilateral exchanges between Europe and Asia on economic affairs, politics, education, culture, the environment and climate protection. The 51 ASEM member states and two organisations represent around 60% of the world's population and account for roughly 60% of global trade. Switzerland joined ASEM in 2012, and its involvement facilitates bilateral contacts as well as regional links, for example with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), with which Switzerland wishes to strengthen its partnership.
The participation in this year's Asia-Europe Meeting is one example of the numerous bilateral and multilateral relations Mr Burkhalter has established and fostered with Asian partners in 2015. For example, in March, May and June 2015 he conducted bilateral talks in Japan, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Singapore, South Korea and Vietnam. At the multilateral level he attended the World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction in Sendai (Japan), took part in the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, and chaired the Asian Conference of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). A central theme of all these talks was aspects of cooperative security.
In late November 2015, Switzerland will also organise the 15th Informal ASEM Seminar on Human Rights in Montreux. This year's event will focus on the theme of "Human Rights and Trafficking in Persons".
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