The (ASEM FMM13) concluded today with adoption of a 36 point Chair’s Statement titled “Strengthening Partnership for Peace and Sustainable Development”. On the second and last day of the meeting, Foreign Ministers/High-level Representatives of 53 ASEM Partners from Asia and Europe joined a retreat session conducted by Myanmar State Counsellor and Union Minister for Foreign AffairsDawAung San SuuKyi. In an informal discussion during the retreat, Foreign Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali, MP appreciated ASEM Foreign Ministers for sharing their ideas and views in accelerating the ASEM process towards a better future for the people of Asia and Europe. He stressed on the critical role of ASEM in fostering stronger partnership among the stakeholders and to find out innovative ways of resource mobilization for various projects of ASEM. The Chair’s Statement focused on, among others, the issues of security, nuclear threat in the Korean peninsula, adverse impact of climate changeand gender issue .
Foreign Minister also held bilateral meetings with the Foreign Ministers of Malta and Norway, and the Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan on the sideline of the 13th ASEM Foreign Ministers’ Meeting today, where issues of bilateral mutual interest were discussed.