第十二届亚欧首脑会议将于2018年10月18日至19日在比利时布鲁塞尔举行，中国国务院总理李克强将应邀与会。外交部部长助理张军近日在《人民日报》发表题为《新挑战 新机遇 深化亚欧合作正当时》的署名文章，阐述在当前国际形势下亚欧合作的重大特殊意义，释放坚决维护多边主义和开放型世界经济的积极信号。全文如下：

　　新挑战 新机遇 深化亚欧合作正当时

　　张军

　　今年10月18日至19日，第十二届亚欧首脑会议将在比利时布鲁塞尔举行，中国国务院总理李克强将应邀与会。会议以“欧洲和亚洲：全球伙伴应对全球挑战”为主题，将为下阶段亚欧合作指明方向，具有很强的现实意义，中国的作用备受关注和期待。

　　亚欧大陆是世界历史的中心地带，孕育了东西方两大文明。早在两千多年前，先辈们就开拓出横贯亚欧大陆的古丝绸之路，架起了亚欧交流往来的桥梁。冷战结束后，亚欧各国政治家们开始思考，如何更好促进两大洲间的交流与合作，亚欧会议1996年应运而生。20多年来，亚欧会议不断推动亚欧各方增进理解，加深友谊，亚欧政治对话、经贸合作、社会文化及其他领域合作焕发勃勃生机。

An opportune time for closer Asia-Europe cooperation: new challenges and opportunities

By Zhang Jun

Historically, the Eurasian landmass was the heartland of the world, giving birth to both Eastern and Western civilizations. As early as more than 2,000 years ago, our ancestors opened the ancient Silk Road straddling Asia and Europe, which became a bridge of exchanges between the people of the two continents. After the end of the Cold War, political leaders of Asia and Europe started to think about how to facilitate exchanges and cooperation across the continents, hence the birth of ASEM in 1996. Over the past 20-plus years, ASEM has deepened understanding and friendship and invigorated political dialogue, economic cooperation, and social and cultural exchanges between Asia and Europe.

　　当前国际形势正发生复杂深刻变化，不稳定不确定因素增多，地区热点问题此起彼伏，非传统安全威胁依然严峻。世界经济出现向好势头，但经济全球化遭遇挫折，保护主义显著抬头。开放还是封闭、前进还是后退、合作共赢还是零和博弈，这是摆在各国面前必须回答的重大现实问题。本届亚欧首脑会议正是在这样的大背景下举行的。

The international landscape is undergoing complicated and profound changes, with rising uncertainties and destabilizing factors. Regional flashpoints have kept emerging, and nontraditional security threats remain severe. Although the world economy presents an upward momentum, economic globalization has met setbacks, and protectionism is rearing its head. Countries are facing a major choice between openness and isolation, moving forward and back sliding, and win-win cooperation and a zero-sum game. Such is the backdrop for the upcoming ASEM Summit.

　　越是面对共同挑战，越应加强合作。亚欧会议成立于冷战结束和经济全球化兴起之时，多边主义和开放型世界经济是亚欧会议的安身立命之本，是亚欧会议永不褪色的主题。面对单边主义和保护主义，亚欧成员应加强团结，化挑战为机遇，当仁不让成为搏浪穿涛的旗舰，驶向亚欧合作更加美好的未来。

Common challenges require closer cooperation. ASEM was established when the Cold War came to an end and economic globalization gathered pace. Multilateralism and an open world economy are its solid anchor and abiding commitment. Facing unilateralism and protectionism, ASEM members need to unite as one, translate challenges into opportunities, and meet difficulties head on, so as to usher in an even brighter future for cooperation.