Climate Change and Economic Implications
11. The environment is indivisible and its preservation is crucial to the international community at large. ASEP Parliamentarians had a thorough discussion on climate change and international efforts to address it. ASEP Parliamentarians emphasize that climate change is an undisputed fact and underlined that all countries should act with resolve and urgency to meet the shared and multiple objectives of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, improving the global environment, and dealing with air pollution in conjunction with their resolute efforts to reduce poverty.
12. ASEP Parliamentarians underline that multilateral agreements, especially the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and its Kyoto Protocol, are indispensable tools in addressing climate change and call for the substantial development of international efforts to tackle climate change and urge all partners to contribute to these efforts. ASEP Parliamentarians took note of the Arctic Climate Impact Assessment. ASEP Parliamentarians underscore the importance of attaining inclusive international agreements over climate change and the efforts to address it. ASEP Parliamentarians encourage the ASEM Summit to produce a declaration on climate change and the international community's efforts to address it.
13. ASEP Parliamentarians recognize the fact that all countries have a right to economic development. Therefore, sustainable development needs major and sustained efforts to promote economic growth within the carrying capacity of ecosystems by addressing and, where appropriate, de-linking economic growth from environmental degradation through improving efficiency and sustainability in the use of resources. ASEP Parliamentarians also recognised that improved energy security and access to reliable, affordable, and environmentally sound energy services contribute to the eradication of poverty as called for in the Millennium Development Goals. Developed countries should take the lead in furthering sustainable development and assisting developing countries both financially and technically with this aim.
Education and Mobility – Asia-Europe Cultural Exchange
14. ASEP Parliamentarians emphasize that cultural diversity is an invaluable asset in international relations. ASEP Parliamentarians had a thorough discussion on education and mobility, including cultural exchanges in the Asia-Europe Context. Cultural exchanges, including dialogue among cultures and civilizations and interfaith dialogue, should play an important role in Asia-Europe cooperation and international cooperation at large. ASEP Parliamentarians call for a further development of a common cultural space and takes favourable note of the Action Plan of ASEM Culture Ministers. ASEP Parlia-mentarians acknowledge the significant role of the Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF) in furthering this aim.
15. ASEP Parliamentarians recognise and appreciate the fact that direct links between non-governmental organizations and civil society groups can contribute to furthering a dialogue among cultures and civilizations, and with this aim in mind, ask the ASEM governments to strengthen the role of the Asia-Europe People's Forum (AEPF).
16. ASEP Parliamentarians recognise the importance of mobility – of people, ideas and labour - between Asia and Europe in developing a lasting basis for a mutually beneficial Asia-Europe partnership. Education and Research should be vanguards of mobility between Asia and Europe. ASEP Parliamentarians emphasize the value of young people's exchanges – in universities, companies and public administration – as a future bridge between Asia and Europe, and believe that further efforts should be put in developing youth exchange programmes as well as in developing a closer cooperation between the Asia-Europe Young Parliamentarians Meeting and ASEP.
17. ASEP Parliamentarians call on ASEM to task ASEM Education Ministers to develop an ambitious and concrete action plan on furthering exchange programmes for youth and young professionals – both professional and educational – and in higher education and research to be presented to the ASEM VII meeting. Asia-Europe should have an ambitious student exchange program in the fashion of Europe's Erasmus-programme and dedicated ASEM-scholarships to encourage student and academic exchanges between Asia and Europe. ASEP Parliamentarians underline that these exchanges should also foster a more widespread study of Asian languages and culture in Europe and European languages and culture in Asia. ASEP Parliamentarians are convinced of the fundamental importance of youth and educational exchanges as a foundation for a closer and mutually beneficial Asia-Europe cooperation. With this aim in mind, ASEP Parliamentarians, endorsing the joint proposal of the National Assembly of Vietnam and the European Parliament, extend ASEP's support to the series of European Higher Education Fairs being organized by the European Commission and EU member states in successive Asian capitals and call on European and Asian students and scholars to take an active part in their organization.