`ASEM is gold mine of opportunity`

The third Asia-Europe Meeting will be held Oct. 20 and 21 in Seoul under the theme, "Partnership for Prosperity and Stability in the New Millennium," with 25 leaders from Europe and Asia.

The first ASEM, held in Bangkok in 1996, sought "New Comprehensive Asia-Europe Partnership for Greater Growth," while the second ASEM, in London in 1998, sought to further develop that aim. However, the foreign currency crisis in Asia stalled such hope during the second ASEM, which busily discussed measures to counter the crisis.

For the third ASEM, in Seoul, many hope it to become a meeting through which greater business cooperation and detailed provisions and measures could be worked out for long-term goals of "Partnership for Prosperity and Stability in the New Millennium."

The symbolic importance of having the leaders of Asia and Europe come together and discuss various measures or greater cooperation between the two regions cannot be discounted.

In the past few centuries, the relationship between Asia and Europe largely was not one of equal standing. Soon after the devastation of World War II, Europe lost much of its influence, and only through the renewed effort for solidarity, it is becoming increasingly more influential worldwide. Asia in the past 20 to 30 years has been mostly reborn and has been drawing attention of the world as it pursues political and economic development.

In such a vein, the ASEM in Seoul clearly shows the equality Asians have attained in their relationship with Europe.

The measures that likely will be adopted such as the trans-Eurasian information network and the ASEM scholarship fund will help toward narrowing the information divide between the continents and will become fundamental in actual promotion of understanding and exchanges.

Another significance of the third ASEM is the fact that it will be held in Korea, the last Cold War front, which has begun thawing rather quickly.

Although the European recognition of Asia has been increasing, there still is a general lack in awareness about Korea. Accordingly, through the ASEM, the leaders of various nations will be able to witness firsthand the degree of effort Korea has made for peace and democracy on the Korean peninsula, as their support for the continued peace development here is sought.

All in all, the strengthening of the cooperative relationship between Europe and Asia could become the joint answer to the world peace order dominated by North America. With the rapid development in information science and technology in the 1990s, the three major regions of the world -- Asia, Europe and North America -- have marched to the beats of different drummers. The benefits of globalization have fallen much less on Asia and Europe in comparison to North America.

Accordingly, in order to alleviate negative aspects of globalization, Asia and Europe must cooperate fully and not hold back.

The writer is Choi Dae-hwa, Ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary & Chief of Mission, Korean Embassy in Belgium & Mission to European Union.