Foresight is 20/20: Scenario Building for Policy Analysis and Strategy Development

On the occasion of the 9th ASEM leaders’ summit in November 2012 in Vientiane, the ASEM process connects 52% of the world’s GDP, almost 60% of the world’s population and 68% of global trade. As a forum for dialogue, it is becoming increasingly important in addressing key global issues facing the international community. Given the size and further expansion of ASEM, it is evident that deepened Asia-Europe co-operation is no longer a luxury but a necessity. With this in mind, Asia and Europe need to rely on different dialogue frameworks, such as ASEM, to deepen their co-operation, improve dialogue both inter- and intra-regionally, and share the burdens of global responsibility. ASEM Outlook Report 2012 focuses on the future of Asia-Europe relations in four sectors (security and conflict management; economic and financial integration; environmental governance; and public health and pandemic preparedness). The report contains recommendations to address emerging global and regional challenges. ASEM Outlook Report 2012 was made possible through the collaboration between the Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF) and the United Nations University Institute on Comparative Regional Integration Studies (UNU-CRIS).