The Second Ministerial Meeting of the Asia-Middle East Dialogue (AMED II)
 Sharm El Sheikh 5th to 6th  April 2008

I – Background:

II – Objectives :

Egypt attaches great importance to consolidating and reinforcing the Dialogue between Asia and the Middle East with a view to attaining their mutual and common interests and serving the political, economic and cultural bonds between the governments and peoples of the two regions.
We hope that the Meeting, will be able to initiate practical programs for prioritized areas of cooperation and strengthen the cultural bonds among the great peoples and civilizations of Asia and the Middle East.

III- Proceedings :

The Meeting will be opened by H. E. Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Arab Republic of Egypt as the host of the meeting as well as the new Chairman of the Dialogue, followed by a statement by H. E.  George Yong-Boon Yeo, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Singapore, in his capacity as the outgoing Chairman of the Dialogue. Prominent speakers and moderators from Asia and the Middle East will address different issues and topics of the Meeting in free and frank atmosphere among themselves as well as between them and the audience. At the opening session of the Meeting two keynote speakers from Asia and the Middle East will address the Meeting to elaborate on the prospects and potentials of cooperation and Dialogue between the governments and peoples of Asia and the Middle East.

IV – Topics :

The Meeting will focus on three tracks : Political Issues, Economic Issues, and Social, Scientific, and Media Issues. Under these tracks selected issues and topics will be addressed including political and economic reforms, Governments and civil societies, combating terrorism, expanding trade and investment between the two regions, cooperation between oil producers and consumers, science & technology and IT, human resources development and movement of labor forces, climate changes, and Combating defamation of religion.

V- H.E. Raouf Saad ,Assistant to the Minister of Forign Affairs is the General Coordinator of the Meeting .

VI- AMED III :

The Meeting will be concluded by a statement by the upcoming Chairman of the Dialogue H. E.  Noppadon Pattama Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom Thailand.
We look forward to meet again in Bangkok for AMED III.