The '''Asia–Europe Meeting''' ('''ASEM''') is an exclusively Asian–European forum to enhance relations and various forms of cooperation between its partners.
The '''Asia–Europe Meeting''' ('''ASEM''') is an exclusively Asian–European forum to enhance relations and various forms of cooperation between its partners.
It was officially established on 1 March 1996 at the first summit in [[Bangkok]], [[Thailand]] by the then 15 members of the [[European Union]] (EU) and the [[European Commission]], the then 7 members of the [[Association of Southeast Asian Nations]] (ASEAN), and the individual countries of [[China]], [[Japan]], and [[South Korea]].<ref>{{cite book|title=Asia and Europe: the development and different dimensions of ASEM |author= Lay Hwee Yeo|year=2003|publisher=Routledge (UK)|isbn=0-415-30697-3}}</ref> A series of enlargements saw additional EU members join as well as [[India]], [[Mongolia]], [[Pakistan]] and the [[ASEAN|ASEAN Secretariat]] in 2006 {{Citation needed|date=November 2014}}, [[Australia]], [[New Zealand]] and the [[Russian Federation]] in 2010, <ref>[http://www.asianewsnet.net/news.php?id=5970&sec=1 ASEM ministers wrap up ‘productive’ session]</ref> [[Bangladesh]], [[Norway]], and [[Switzerland]] in 2012,<ref>[http://www.aseminfoboard.org/content/asia-europe-foundation-asef ASEF's Expansion]</ref> as well as [[Croatia]] and [[Kazakhstan]] in 2014{{Citation needed|date=November 2014}} and also [[Afghanistan]] [[Bahrain]] [[Belarus]] [[Bhutan]] [[Maldives]] [[Palestine]] and [[Timor Leste]] in the year 2018 .
It was officially established on 1 March 1996 at the first summit in [[Bangkok]], [[Thailand]] by the then 15 members of the [[European Union]] (EU) and the [[European Commission]], the then 7 members of the [[Association of Southeast Asian Nations]] (ASEAN), and the individual countries of [[China]], [[Japan]], and [[South Korea]].<ref>{{cite book|title=Asia and Europe: the development and different dimensions of ASEM |author= Lay Hwee Yeo|year=2003|publisher=Routledge (UK)|isbn=0-415-30697-3}}</ref> A series of enlargements saw additional EU members join as well as [[India]], [[Mongolia]], [[Pakistan]] and the [[ASEAN|ASEAN Secretariat]] in 2006 {{Citation needed|date=November 2014}}, [[Australia]], [[New Zealand]] and the [[Russian Federation]] in 2010, <ref>[http://www.asianewsnet.net/news.php?id=5970&sec=1 ASEM ministers wrap up ‘productive’ session]</ref> [[Bangladesh]], [[Norway]], and [[Switzerland]] in 2012,<ref>[http://www.aseminfoboard.org/content/asia-europe-foundation-asef ASEF's Expansion]</ref> as well as [[Croatia]] and [[Kazakhstan]] in 2014{{Citation needed|date=November 2014}} and also [[Afghanistan]] [[Bahrain]] [[Belarus]] [[Bhutan]] [[Maldives]] [[Palestine]] and [[Timor Leste]] in the next year of 2018 .
The main components of the ASEM process rest on the following 3 pillars:
The main components of the ASEM process rest on the following 3 pillars:
The main components of the ASEM process rest on the following 3 pillars:
Political Pillar
Economic Pillar
Social, Cultural & Educational Pillar
In general, the process is considered by the partners involved to be a way of deepening the relations between Asia and Europe at all levels, which is deemed necessary to achieve a more balanced political and economic world order. The process is enhanced by the biennial meetings of Heads of State and Government, alternately in Europe and Asia, and biennial meetings of Foreign Ministers as well as political, economic, and socio-cultural meetings and events at various levels.
Aside from Summits, regular Ministerial Meetings are held on foreign affairs, financial, cultural, economic, educational, labor and employment, environmental, or transport issues, attended by the relevant ministers: