Dialogue towards understanding and collaboration

In the course of past 95 years Mongolia has been marking her National Day-NAADAM in July in which everyone of its audience is also full-fledged participant.  Throughout this sparsely populated vast land with long and proud history each of its 330 soum (administrative unit) centers turns into marvelous arena for heart throbbing horse racing, sturdy but elastic wrestling and remarkably warrior alike archery competition. Certainly, there are many other colorful entertainments with both traditional and modern features from ankle bone-shooting to pageantry of beautiful of trotting horses and open air rock concerts.
This year NAADAM will have not only maximum number of wrestlers and other contenders but also large contingent of high dignitaries to witness it as this vibrant democracy in North Eastern Asia is hosting the 11th summit of the Asia European Meeting(ASEM) on 15th to 16th July. Presently 51 states and 2 regional organizations have confirmed their participation and prevailing majority at highest possible level.
Large family of my Bengalese friends might have heard that international community is stronger and wiser when and as we get together or moreover united. Even there are Mongolian proverbs saying concurrence with all helps to be correct and washing with hot water helps to be clean or Magpies in unison are stronger than tigers wandering one by one. Realities in life corroborate they are indeed true. If not everybody then many of us would agree that dialogue even protracted one is always better than violent conflict. Once the dialogue transcends big chunks of humanity like Asia and Europe its benefit has to be multifaceted and immeasurable in any way.
The Asia is the largest and most populous continent, covers 30 per cent of the earth land mass and has historically been cradle to the world’s modern civilizations.
Europe is the world’s second smallest continent but accommodates nearly 15 per cent of its population which gave rise to profound economic, cultural and social transformations.
The humankind had suffered in two devastating world wars and decades long Cold war that divided the whole world into adamantly contradicting blocks. However, this lingering animosity turned into reconciliation with fall of the Berlin Wall and formation of the European Union.
Actually the first initiative was the First Asian relations conference which held in New Delhi, in March 1947 even prior to the proclamation of India’s independence.
Owing to thaw in international relations a favourable prerequisite for understanding rather than animosity across the two continents of 5.2 billion inhabitants led to birth of the Asia Europe Meeting (ASEM) on 1 March, 1996 at the first summit in Bangkok, Thailand. It was then only venue to encourage understanding and enhance relations at different level. But it was not big as of today and 15 members of the European Union (EU) and its Commission and 7 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Throughout two decades of continuous enlargements it evolved into one of the major regional forums comprising 51 countries including Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Cambodia, China, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, the Lao Peoples Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Mongolia, Myanmar, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Pakistan, the Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, the Russian Federation, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, the Republic of Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the United Kingdom, Vietnam and  two regional organizations like the European Union and the ASEAN Secretariat.
ASEM’s principal areas of activities have been focused on political, economic and social, cultural and educational dimension. It aimed at deepening understanding amongst Asian and European continents at every level, which is still being considered essential to achieve a more balanced political and economic world order. The process is enhanced by the biennial summits of Heads of State and Government, alternately in Asia and Europe and biennial meetings of Foreign and Finance Ministers as well as numerous political, economic and socio-cultural events at various levels.
This year of 2016 when 20th jubilee of ASEM is falling Mongolia is committed to host its 11th summit that preceded by nine major events including Asia Europe Parliamentary Partnership Meeting (ASEP).
The ASEP Meeting held on 21 to 22 April, 2016 was inseparable part of the overall Asia-Europe partnership process. It constituted as a forum for inter-parliamentary contacts, exchanges and diplomacy among elected legislative bodies, and to promote mutual understanding among the peoples and countries in Asia and Europe. ASEP meetings usually convened on a regular bi-annual basis alternately in Asia and in Europe prior to the ASEM Summit.
It should be noted that high level delegation from the Government of People’s Republic of Bangladesh headed  by  the Honorable Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, herself is  taking part in the 11th ASEM summit once again indicates the  particular importance the Government of  Bangladesh attaches to these transcontinental forums. Her visit would become landmark event in the history of Mongolia and Bangladeshi relations and also provide an ample opportunity to meet not only bilateral but also multilateral meetings on issues of high significance in today’s circumstance.
As said earlier ASEM covers potentially every issues of common interest to Asia and Europe. It has provided a dialogue platform to address international matters such as United Nations reforms, weapons of mass destruction (WMD), terrorism, migration flows or WTO negotiations or climate change. Asia and Europe have worked together for improving the international security environment. By and large, ASEM has become a conducive process for managing globalization and its effects, for enhancing inter-regional and international business frameworks, and promoting the role of Europe in Asia. ASEM is also about diversity in terms of people and culture.
It has served as a dialogue facilitator and helped increasing mutual understanding through people-to-people contacts.
In that context, ASEM should be construed as a dialogue mechanism as well as a delivery instrument. In fact, since no formal negotiations take place within ASEM, it is difficult to quantify the real contribution of ASEM on one or another particular issue. The delivery aspect of ASEM is not always visible as real developments may occur elsewhere in a more formal setting.
ASEM is an opinion-making body. By promoting an open and inclusive dialogue, it has allowed its participants to develop and test new ideas for future policy-making.
By creating a permanent process of consultation, ASEM has helped to streamline the international agenda. As a forum promoting an open and informal dialogue, ASEM provides an opportunity to work towards negotiated solutions, especially in areas of disagreement.
It provides additional consultation venues prior to formal negotiations take place at multilateral fora. Because ASEM remains an informal dialogue-based process, there is not so rigidly structured agenda. One specific institution, the Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF), has been created in response to Summit decisions.
ASEM also creates opportunities for exchanging experiences and share knowledge and facilitates some transfer of technology to Asian countries those have shown interest in the European regional integration developments. In the meantime, European partners can gain a better understanding of regional developments in Asia and the perspectives of Asia’s regional integration. ASEM helps to build common view points on specific issues too. In the wake of recent escalation of violent terrorist acts and territorial disputes as well as economic challenges in Asia and Europe this feature might play a growing role in an enlarged ASEM, especially on trans-national and regional security issues, in particular for the fight against international terrorism, organized crime and migration.
ASEM was matured as a new process binding Asia and Europe, which complements existing Asia-Europe relations. This is not a substitute for other bilateral or multilateral fora between Asia and Europe, and it can best work to facilitate and stimulate progress in other forums. As a new layer of dialogue and cooperation, ASEM has enhanced synergies in Asia-Europe connectivity. ASEM has also served as catalyst for overall Asia-Europe relations and complements other levels of exchanges between the two regions.
Since ASEM has helped Asia and Europe to have a more global vision of the two regions partnership and still remaining an informal dialogue-based process, it would help to promote overall Asia-Europe relations on international and inter-regional issues of common interest.
By bringing together diverse cultures, faiths and civilization, ASEM in general and its upcoming 11th summit to be held in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia in particular would facilitate to foster common understanding and collaboration. What could be more of value than genuine understanding and effective collaboration?

The writer is the Ambassador of Mongolia to Bangladesh.

 

 

Dialogue towards understanding and collaboration

In the course of past 95 years Mongolia has been marking her National Day-NAADAM in July in which everyone of its audience is also full-fledged participant. Throughout this sparsely populated vast land with long and proud history each of its 330 soum (administrative unit) centers turns into marvelous arena for heart throbbing horse racing, sturdy but elastic wrestling and remarkably warrior alike archery competition. Certainly, there are many other colorful entertainments with both traditional and modern features from ankle bone-shooting to pageantry of beautiful of trotting horses and open air rock concerts. This year NAADAM will have not only maximum number of wrestlers and other contenders but also large contingent of high dignitaries to witness it as this vibrant democracy in North Eastern Asia is hosting the 11th summit of the Asia European Meeting(ASEM) on 15th to 16th July. Presently 51 states and 2 regional organizations have confirmed their participation and prevailing majority at highest possible level. Large family of my Bengalese friends might have heard that international community is stronger and wiser when and as we get together or moreover united. Even there are Mongolian proverbs saying concurrence with all helps to be correct and washing with hot water helps to be clean or Magpies in unison are stronger than tigers wandering one by one. Realities in life corroborate they are indeed true. If not everybody then many of us would agree that dialogue even protracted one is always better than violent conflict. Once the dialogue transcends big chunks of humanity like Asia and Europe its benefit has to be multifaceted and immeasurable in any way. The Asia is the largest and most populous continent, covers 30 per cent of the earth land mass and has historically been cradle to the worlds modern civilizations. Europe is the worlds second smallest continent but accommodates nearly 15 per cent of its population which gave rise to profound economic, cultural and social transformations. The humankind had suffered in two devastating world wars and decades long Cold war that divided the whole world into adamantly contradicting blocks. However, this lingering animosity turned into reconciliation with fall of the Berlin Wall and formation of the European Union. Actually the first initiative was the First Asian relations conference which held in New Delhi, in March 1947 even prior to the proclamation of Indias independence. Owing to thaw in international relations a favourable prerequisite for understanding rather than animosity across the two continents of 5.2 billion inhabitants led to birth of the Asia Europe Meeting (ASEM) on 1 March, 1996 at the first summit in Bangkok, Thailand. It was then only venue to encourage understanding and enhance relations at different level. But it was not big as of today and 15 members of the European Union (EU) and its Commission and 7 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Throughout two decades of continuous enlargements it evolved into one of the major regional forums comprising 51 countries including Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Cambodia, China, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, the Lao Peoples Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Mongolia, Myanmar, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Pakistan, the Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, the Russian Federation, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, the Republic of Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the United Kingdom, Vietnam and two regional organizations like the European Union and the ASEAN Secretariat. ASEMs principal areas of activities have been focused on political, economic and social, cultural and educational dimension. It aimed at deepening understanding amongst Asian and European continents at every level, which is still being considered essential to achieve a more balanced political and economic world order. The process is enhanced by the biennial summits of Heads of State and Government, alternately in Asia and Europe and biennial meetings of Foreign and Finance Ministers as well as numerous political, economic and socio-cultural events at various levels. This year of 2016 when 20th jubilee of ASEM is falling Mongolia is committed to host its 11th summit that preceded by nine major events including Asia Europe Parliamentary Partnership Meeting (ASEP). The ASEP Meeting held on 21 to 22 April, 2016 was inseparable part of the overall Asia-Europe partnership process. It constituted as a forum for inter-parliamentary contacts, exchanges and diplomacy among elected legislative bodies, and to promote mutual understanding among the peoples and countries in Asia and Europe. ASEP meetings usually convened on a regular bi-annual basis alternately in Asia and in Europe prior to the ASEM Summit. It should be noted that high level delegation from the Government of Peoples Republic of Bangladesh headed by the Honorable Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, herself is taking part in the 11th ASEM summit once again indicates the particular importance the Government of Bangladesh attaches to these transcontinental forums. Her visit would become landmark event in the history of Mongolia and Bangladeshi relations and also provide an ample opportunity to meet not only bilateral but also multilateral meetings on issues of high significance in todays circumstance. As said earlier ASEM covers potentially every issues of common interest to Asia and Europe. It has provided a dialogue platform to address international matters such as United Nations reforms, weapons of mass destruction (WMD), terrorism, migration flows or WTO negotiations or climate change. Asia and Europe have worked together for improving the international security environment. By and large, ASEM has become a conducive process for managing globalization and its effects, for enhancing inter-regional and international business frameworks, and promoting the role of Europe in Asia. ASEM is also about diversity in terms of people and culture. It has served as a dialogue facilitator and helped increasing mutual understanding through people-to-people contacts. In that context, ASEM should be construed as a dialogue mechanism as well as a delivery instrument. In fact, since no formal negotiations take place within ASEM, it is difficult to quantify the real contribution of ASEM on one or another particular issue. The delivery aspect of ASEM is not always visible as real developments may occur elsewhere in a more formal setting. ASEM is an opinion-making body. By promoting an open and inclusive dialogue, it has allowed its participants to develop and test new ideas for future policy-making. By creating a permanent process of consultation, ASEM has helped to streamline the international agenda. As a forum promoting an open and informal dialogue, ASEM provides an opportunity to work towards negotiated solutions, especially in areas of disagreement. It provides additional consultation venues prior to formal negotiations take place at multilateral fora. Because ASEM remains an informal dialogue-based process, there is not so rigidly structured agenda. One specific institution, the Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF), has been created in response to Summit decisions. ASEM also creates opportunities for exchanging experiences and share knowledge and facilitates some transfer of technology to Asian countries those have shown interest in the European regional integration developments. In the meantime, European partners can gain a better understanding of regional developments in Asia and the perspectives of Asias regional integration. ASEM helps to build common view points on specific issues too. In the wake of recent escalation of violent terrorist acts and territorial disputes as well as economic challenges in Asia and Europe this feature might play a growing role in an enlarged ASEM, especially on trans-national and regional security issues, in particular for the fight against international terrorism, organized crime and migration. ASEM was matured as a new process binding Asia and Europe, which complements existing Asia-Europe relations. This is not a substitute for other bilateral or multilateral fora between Asia and Europe, and it can best work to facilitate and stimulate progress in other forums. As a new layer of dialogue and cooperation, ASEM has enhanced synergies in Asia-Europe connectivity. ASEM has also served as catalyst for overall Asia-Europe relations and complements other levels of exchanges between the two regions. Since ASEM has helped Asia and Europe to have a more global vision of the two regions partnership and still remaining an informal dialogue-based process, it would help to promote overall Asia-Europe relations on international and inter-regional issues of common interest. By bringing together diverse cultures, faiths and civilization, ASEM in general and its upcoming 11th summit to be held in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia in particular would facilitate to foster common understanding and collaboration. What could be more of value than genuine understanding and effective collaboration? The writer is the Ambassador of Mongolia to Bangladesh.