First Deputy Speaker of the Finnish parliament Seppo Kääriäinen on Thursday called for strengthening the cooperation between Europe and Asia.
Kääriäinen made the remarks in a speech addressing the fifth Asia-Europe Parliamentary Partnership Meeting (ASEP), saying that he looks forward to "very fruitful discussions" over the coming two days.
Kääriäinen said many negative sides arise from globalization, climate change, environmental problems, and challenges related to the strengthening of democracy and human rights.
"We need to tackle these issues as an essential part of our work to strengthen the cooperation between Europe and Asia," he said, noting that this would help both sides to reap the benefits of trade and economic development as well as of greatly increased cultural interaction.
Kääriäinen said the environmental changes also open up new opportunities, and new projects related to energy and logistics will be developed within the coming few years.
The possibilities to use new and shorter shipping lanes from Europe to Asia through the High North are emerging, he noted.
"The issues involved are of the magnitude that an active Asia-Europe cooperation can only benefit the work that has already started in Europe and in a transatlantic context," he said.
China, as the host of ASEP as well as the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) later this year, now has the opportunity to take the Asia-Europe cooperation to a new level, Kääriäinen said.
The deputy speaker also expressed his condolences for all the lives lost in the natural disasters in the last few months in China and elsewhere in Asia.
"The rebuilding efforts will need the support and cooperation of all of us," he noted.
In closing, he expressed his hope for the success of the Olympic Games in Beijing.
ASEP, initiated in 1996 and held every two years in Asia and Europe in turn, is aimed at enhancing mutual understanding between Asia and Europe through increased dialogues among parliaments.
The Finnish parliament was the host of the previous ASEP meeting.
Since its inception, ASEP membership has increased from 26 to 43. This year's meeting will focus on cooperation between Asia and Europe, and promoting common development.
Source: Xinhua
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