Better Late than Never as Australia Participates in ASEM

Almost 14 years after it first applied, Australia joins the 48-member Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) next week, with Prime Minister Julia Gillard making her first appearance on the international stage. Ms Gillard’s participation in ASEM on Oct. 4-5 draws attention to Australia’s drive to strengthen engagement with both Asia and Europe. It also boosts ASEM’s credibility as a forum for informal dialogue and consultation between the two regions.ASEM participants account for 60 percent of the world’s population and 60 percent of world trade. Australia does not want to miss out on this huge forum, which brings together not only government leaders and policymakers but also businesses, parliaments and civil society groups, providing opportunities to try out new means of cooperation and new ideas to resolve pressing global problems.ASEM leaders in Brussels will issue a statement on improving...