Foreign Minister Tuomioja to meet with Asian foreign ministers

Press release 350/2006
8 September, 2006

Erkki Tuomioja, Finland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, will meet with the foreign ministers of Asian countries in connection with the ASEM 6 Summit. Meetings are to be held with the foreign ministers of China, South Korea, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam.

Central issues during all of the discussions will be the situation in the Middle East and other topical international affairs, such as reform of the United Nations.

Issues pertaining to the security of the Korean peninsula are on the agenda of talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing and South Korean Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon. Ministers Tuomioja and Li Zhaoxing will also discuss development policy issues, owing to the rising importance of China as a donor of development assistance, especially in Africa.

Regional cooperation in Asia is on the agenda of talks with Foreign Minister Alberto Romulo of the Philippines and Foreign Minister Kantathi Suphamongkhon of Thailand. The Philippines and Thailand have much influence in ASEAN, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations; the Philippines currently holds the chair. The meetings will also provide an opportunity to address issues pertaining to the situation in Myanmar.

Alongside topical international issues, Vietnamese Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem and Foreign Minister Tuomioja will discuss development of relations between the EU and Vietnam.

Additional information: First Secretary Juha Savolainen, Unit for Asia and Oceania, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, tel. +358 9 1605 6322