Europe-Asia scientific collaboration to be intensified
At the third ASEM (Asia-Europe meeting) in Seoul, the European Commission along with heads of state set out their visions, principles, objectives, priorities and mechanisms for the ASEM process for the first decade of the new millennium. The 'Asia-Europe co-operation framework 2000' includes important decisions on collaboration between Europe and Asia, including the field of scientific research. A total of 26 new initiatives were proposed at ASEM 3, including seven initiatives in the category of 'globalisation/information technology', and five under the heading of 'human resources development/environment/health'. The European Commission played a full part in formulating proposals, acting as co-proposer for three initiatives: a seminar on information and telecommunications technology, a WTO trade facilitation conference, and a trans-Eurasia information network, an initiative that has been the focus of much attention. Researchers in Europe are likely to be affected by many other decisions which were made in Korea, including an initiative to address the digital divide, the launch of the 'DUO ASEM fellowship programme', an initiative to increase exchanges of students and educators between the two regions, and the decision to co-operate in the field of forestry conservation science and technology and sustainable development. SMEs are to be assisted with the creation of ASEM Connect, a scheme to facilitate on-line business matching and access to information (for access to ASEM Connect, please see the web address below). Initiatives noted include a collaborative research programme on networking, and human resource development in information and communications technology. Leaders at the summit emphasised the importance of science and technology, and welcomed the results of the ASEM science and technology ministers' meeting (STMM) held in Beijing on October 1999. They called for an intensification and further follow up activities in areas of common interest and priorities identified at the meeting. These range from issues calling for global solutions, such as biodiversity conservation, bio-safety, including food security and sustainable economic and social development, to the upgrading of research capacities of enterprises, the development of e-commerce and information technology, knowledge transfer from research institutes/universities to industry, science and technology human resource development and agricultural science and technology issues. Co-operation in these areas will be enhanced through the promotion of joint research, the exchange of researchers, seminars, training courses and networks of centres of excellence. ASEM 4 will take place in Copenhagen, Denmark in 2002.