Tianjin Declaration On The Role Of Youth

In Revitalising and Substantiating the Asia-Europe Partnership

We, Young Leaders from Asia and Europe, having participated at the Inaugural Conference for Young Political Leaders in Asia and Europe, convened following the initiative adopted during the 5th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) held in Hanoi, Vietnam in October 2004 by the 38 Heads of State and Government and the President of the European Commission, declare:

Young people represent the best asset for our common future and the driving force of our societies today and therefore we should be seen as an equal partner in creating, implementing and evaluating policies that affect Youth. There can be no youth policies without the active participation of youth representatives in the decision-making process. To achieve such an objective, it is necessary to implement concrete measures to empower youth at local, national and international levels. Young people of the ASEM countries have a strategic role to play in further strengthening the partnership between Asia and Europe.

Active participation of Youth requires: engagement, empowerment in order to enhance our capacity to shape our present and future livelihoods.

Our cooperation should be based on efforts to deepen our common understanding regarding the implementation of the fundamental values of the respect for human rights, of the promotion of democracy and the rule of law, according to the UN Charter.

The World Programme of Action for Youth is proposed as the document expressing our general consensus for the development of a cooperation strategy for Youth between our two regions.

Youth policies must become a priority of the ASEM agenda. Young people and youth organisations should actively participate in the ASEM dialogues. The empowerment of youth organisations should be seen as a fundamental element in ASEM cooperation.

ASEM countries should support the promotion of open and constructive dialogues on the sources of political and social violence and exchanges among Youth to overcome cultural, religious and ethnic preconceptions and stereotypes. Cultural diversity should not be considered as a source of conflict but rather as an asset to our common cultural heritage and as a fundamental basis for modernity. Therefore it should be preserved and cherished among and within our countries.

For this purpose, education programmes and youth activities should be inspired by the need to promote development and protect political, social, economic and cultural pluralism in our societies.

In this respect, social inclusion does not only require intercultural understanding but also active policies to guarantee equal rights and opportunities for all citizens regardless of their cultural, religious and ethnic backgrounds.

We encourage ASEM Leaders to actively promote and support:

A favourable environment for the establishment and development of democratic, self-governed and independent Youth associations and organisations, with access to funding and institutional channels to ensure regular dialogue with Governments and be consulted on all matters of Youth concern. Gender equality and women's empowerment in our respective societies. Actions to fully achieve the Millennium Development Goals, with a particular attention to social inclusion for all citizens regardless of their culture, religion, age, ethnicity, gender and sexuality. Human development through intercultural learning and dialogue across faiths. Access to information and communication technologies (ICT) in order to empower young people and close the digital divide. The removal of the barriers that prevent the free mobility, both internally and across borders, of young people participating in youth activities. Mobility and exchanges of youth workers and youth activists within the fulfilment of their tasks as agents favouring social and sustainable development, mutual understanding and help eradicate xenophobia. Particular attention should be given to the full implementation of international law regarding the situation of young refugees and young displaced people. Volunteerism, among others, as a central tool to assist marginalised and vulnerable Youth. The establishment of an Asia-Europe network of volunteer service organisations to contribute to the exchange of ideas and best practises and to increase the impact of these organisations in the field. Participation of Youth as active citizens in all levels of decision making based on the principles of democracy. Training and capacity building initiatives for Youth organisations to promote sustainable development, respect for Human Rights and education for mutual understanding, while encouraging public authorities to facilitate the spreading of these activities and ideas within society. Concrete measures both in the formal educational systems and through non-formal educational projects to promote the awareness and appreciation for cultural diversity and effectively overcome intercultural barriers. Promote the reduction of unfair barriers to trade, in order to eradicate hunger and poverty, as well as bring about prosperity for all. The recognition and support to youth organisations as non-formal education providers in order to complement formal education in the strengthening of young peoples' personal development.

Furthermore, we advocate the need to revitalise the Asia-Europe Youth Forum as an important tool for networking and to raise awareness about the need to reinforce the dialogue among Youth from Asia and Europe. The Asia-Europe Youth Forum must address the needs for the development of political agenda for Youth, sectoral policies (according to the priorities of the World Programme of Action for Youth) as well as Training and Capacity Building initiatives. This platform of cooperation should be working in partnership with national and local administrations as well as with regional and international organisations, business and private sectors. The European Youth Forum, the Asian Students Association and the Asian Youth Council, current organisers of the Asia-Europe Youth Forum, are inviting the All-China Youth Federation to play a constructive role in this partnership. The Asia-Europe Foundation and the organisers endeavour to seek for the full involvement of all youth organisations in the Asian region. The Asia-Europe Foundation should assure the general coordination of the Asia-Europe Youth Forum.

Based on the prevailing conditions, the Asia-Europe Foundation will ensure that the participation in the Asia-Europe Youth Forum activities will rely on the coordination of the European Youth Forum for the European involvement. For the Asian side, we seek the participation of regional youth platforms, youth organisations active in international networks as well as governmental agencies in charge of Youth, on an equal basis.

At the same time we acknowledge the Asia-Europe Foundation for the crucial role that it has played, since its foundation in 1997, to foster better understanding and cooperation among Youth in Asia and Europe, promoting values of intercultural appreciation.

The Asia-Europe Foundation should continue to play the role of catalyst and facilitator of cooperation among Youth in Asia and Europe as well as interface in the necessary dialogue between Governments and Civil Society Youth organisations.

We encourage the ASEM Leaders to provide the Asia-Europe Foundation with the means to further develop closer links with national administrations and regional bodies from Asia and Europe taking advantage of its privileged position to coordinate initiatives concerning Youth policies.

In particular, we strongly recommend the development of an Asia-Europe Youth portal as the virtual meeting point and resource centre at the service of Youth.

We suggest ASEM Leaders to mandate the celebration of the 1st ASEM Youth Ministerial meeting to discuss the practical steps to implement the actions recommended in this document.

We entrust the Asia-Europe Foundation and the Asia-Europe Youth Forum with the follow-up of the principles and recommendations stated in this document and in particular, we encourage their representatives to approach the ASEM Governments to ensure the submission of this Declaration, together with its report, to the VI ASEM Summit.

Acknowledgments:

We thank the Asia-Europe Foundation and the All-China Youth Federation for making the organisation of this Inaugural Conference for Young Political Leaders in Asia and Europe possible. We also thank the People's Republic of China as host of this meeting that has given us the opportunity to share our experiences and knowledge in order to foster cooperation and networking among Youth in Asia and Europe.

We also thank the European Youth Forum for its active role as a partner.

We appreciate the substantial financial support provided by the European Commission for this Conference.

Finally we warmly welcome the announcement that the Kingdom of Denmark will host the next Conference for Young Political Leaders in Asia and Europe in 2007.

Tianjin, 24th November 2005