Speech by Commissioner Lamy at Asia Europe Meeting

Our meeting here today in this scenic and industrious port in the north of China is symbolic for several reasons.

First of all, on behalf of my European colleagues let me say how delighted we are to be invited to participate in the first ministerial gathering here in China since you have managed to successfully control the recent outbreak of SARS. This is indeed an event worth celebrating in its own right. Organising such an ambitious event as a ministerial meeting while also dealing with the substantial domestic health and economic issues created by SARS is an impressive achievement. The quiet confidence which has been displayed throughout the run-up to this meeting by Chinese colleagues has been duly rewarded.

Secondly, as this will now be my 4th ASEM Economic Ministerial, I am starting to feel like an old hand. The common ASEM vocabulary, consisting of acronyms such as TFAP, SOMTI, AEBF, etc., is now starting to come more easily to the tip of my tongue. But it is worth reflecting that this may well be the last time that we have a chance to meet together in such relative intimacy. As you are all aware, the EU will shortly be expanding to include new members and we hope that our diplomatic colleagues, the Foreign Ministers, will find a way to accommodate this expansion in the ASEM context. In any case, EU expansion is expected to have a very significant, and substantially positive impact on our trading partners. I am looking forward to providing you with more information on this subject during our discussions.

Thirdly, the past year has seen an intensive collaboration effort between our officials, as they have carried out the review of the ASEM Economic Pillar activities which we mandated when we met last year. Their report, and its recommendations, suggest that while we have been able to accomplish a great deal in a relatively short time, we must not allow ourselves to become too complacent and set in our ways. They have pointed out a number of areas where we could do more, and do it better. I hope that we will be able to reach agreement today to implement these ideas quickly, and thus be in a position to assess progress on the next occasion when we meet.

Finally, I have saved the most important issue for last. It is not by chance or accident that we are meeting here today together, the leading trade representatives from 25 countries, nearly all of us WTO members, on the eve of the Cancun Ministerial in ASEM, we have a microcosm of the WTO, bringing together developed and developing countries from two major regions of the world. We made this commitment last year because we recognised that this meeting represents an important and timely occasion to share views on how to make Cancun a success and to send key messages to our partners.

The Doha Development Agenda (DDA) has the potential to contribute to a more equitable and sustainable multilateral trading system, at the service of development. The potential benefits of a successful round for European and Asian consumers and businesses are huge. In the current political climate and with the sluggish economic outlook, it is vitally important for the whole WTO membership to ensure a successful outcome from the DDA negotiations. Moreover, the DDA is key to the successful pursuit of both Europe's and Asia's international policy goals - bolstering economic growth and ensuring the integration of developing countries into the global economy. And, of course, it is an important contribution to multilateralism at a moment when this principle is placed increasingly under pressure.

One element in achieving a successful round lies in building partnerships between European and Asian interests, based on our shared vision of development, the needs of our business community, and of course, our societies at large.

Throughout the negotiations, the exchange of views within the ASEM context have helped to create mutual understanding and alliances. We have worked closely together in areas of mutual interest and managed to iron out differences to the largest extent possible in order to contribute to the much-needed progress in this round. This is what business and consumers expect from us - and legitimately so.

We have to demonstrate at the next WTO Ministerial Meeting in Cancun that the DDA will fulfil its development aspirations fully: for us in Europe it is clear that as much as ever, Cancun will be measured globally by the real advances it brings to development. Cancun should reinforce the commitment we all took at Doha to make special efforts to further open trade in areas key for developing countries - whether agriculture, industrial goods or services. We have shown that we are willing to do our part here, and to work on a basis that allows all Members' concerns to be met.

I believe that our alliance is based on a shared view that the round has to reflect developing countries' interests and the fact that the WTO must be about more than just untrammelled liberalisation.

These are the reflections which we have to keep in mind now that we are reaching the final phase of preparations for Cancun. Clearly, Cancun is not a make or break meeting, but a number of important decisions need to be taken which will define the future course of the negotiations. Time is running short, the first draft of the Cancun Declaration is now on the table and improvements will be needed in order to achieve the right balance between all WTO Members' interests.

ASEM Economic Ministers have the opportunity today to send a forward looking message to the whole WTO Membership on the substance of the DDA. By exercising common leadership, we can help to ensure that Cancun and the round as a whole become a success. I hope that you share my ambitions for our discussions today.

Thank you for your attention.

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• Pascal Lamy meets Asian Trade Ministers (22/7/2003)