Closer cooperation with Asia

At the ASEM (Asia-Europe Meeting) Senior Officials' Meeting in Copenhagen on 1 March it was decided that Norway would be admitted to the forum. “I am very pleased with the decision taken in Copenhagen. This opens up a new and meaningful forum for dialogue for Norway,” said Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre.  

The Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) is the most important forum for dialogue between Asia and Europe. The ASEM summits bring together the heads of government of the EU member states and 19 Asian countries. Some 60% of the world’s population and the international economy are represented at ASEM.  

“Joining ASEM will enable us to participate in a forum where relations between the Asia of the future and Europe are being formed. This is important for Norway. Our involvement in Asia is steadily expanding and we are seeing growing Asian interest in our policies on the High North, climate change, the environment and energy,” said Mr Støre.  

In addition to the summits, ministerial-level meetings are held under the auspices of ASEM that focus on different fields ranging from economic and environmental issues to education and culture.