Asia, Europe must work for greater goals

Ask scientists whether Europe and Asia are one big continent or two: they will look at geography, geology and history. But just look at the daily news: Europe and Asia face the same global challenges, the same threats. Dialogue and cooperation between us are more crucial than ever. The institution of a great forum for our continents - the Asia-Europe Meeting - is even more meaningful today than it was 20 years ago, when Asia-Europe Meeting kicked off.

We share an incandescent neighborhood, the Middle East. We have the same interest in addressing the terrorist threat, and stem the flow of foreign fighters converging on the region from Europe and Asia alike. We are all facing a global rise in human mobility: our European public opinion often forgets about the massive movements of migrants and refugees in the other continents, including Asia. Some of the underlying causes of these fluxes are also issues of common concern: conflicts, economic imbalances, natural disasters linked to climate change.

Europe and Asia need one another. Asia is one of the fastest growing regions on Earth. To keep the current pace, improved connections between our continents will be vital. And connectivity is a key word at ASEM.