OSCE Asian Partners for Co-operation Group Conference participants discuss addressing common challenges through reinvigorated multilateral co-operation

VIENNA, 18 July 2023 – Participants at the ongoing OSCE Asian Partners for Co-operation Group Conference have discussed synergies and opportunities for co-operation with a particular focus on enhancing dialogue between the OSCE and Asia on efforts to reduce the risks of conflict stemming from the use of information and communication technologies, promoting effective co-operation in addressing the challenges caused by climate change, and the role of civil society in the promotion of human rights, democracy and the rule of law.

At yesterday's opening session, the OSCE Chairman-in-Office Bujar Osmani underscored the close and inseparable link between security in the OSCE region and the security of its neighbours: “In today’s globalized world, ever more challenges are shared ones. With common challenges, however, come also common opportunities. This is why it is crucial for us to work together, learn from each other and ultimately reinvigorate multilateralism.”

“Enhancing dialogue, sharing commitments, exchanging expertise, identifying areas of common concern and generating ideas on jointly addressing the security challenges – these are all ways Europe and Asia can strengthen their ties and their security,” concluded the Chairman-in-Office.

The event, co-hosted by Poland, the 2023 OSCE Asian Partners for Co-operation Group Chair and Australia, an Asian Partner for Co-operation of the OSCE, is being held in Vienna on 17 and 18 July.

In his opening statement, Zbigniew Rau, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Poland, underlined the unique value of the OSCE Asian Partnership: “The OSCE Asian Partners for Co-operation Group offers a highly functional platform for discussion with the OSCE Partner countries. Our co-operation is of the utmost importance when facing global problems, which are impossible to tackle individually. The Russian aggression against Ukraine is definitely such an existential challenge.”

The Minister for Foreign Affairs of Australia, Senator the Hon Penny Wong, emphasized in her video message “the enduring value of agreed rules, standards and norms, which has only become more stark as Russia's war drags on. Australia understands the risks to all of us when a larger country attempts to subjugate a smaller country.”

“We resolutely advocate for the fundamental principles of international law to be upheld at every opportunity. Because Australia believes small and medium countries must be able to maintain their sovereign choices, protected by a stable framework of rules. And to do that, we must work together across all the issues we can't address alone, including cyber security, climate security and human rights,” she added.

OSCE Secretary General Helga Maria Schmid thanked Poland and Australia for their initiative to organize the conference and stressed that, for the OSCE, co-operation with its partners adds tremendous value: “We know that the challenges we face – whether we consider the risks of conflict arising from the use of information and communication technologies, the challenges posed by climate change – are not unique to any one region, and so there is real benefit in sharing our experiences, learning from each other, and working together to tackle the challenges we face.”

This APCG Chairmanship event was organized at the joint initiative of the Polish Chair of the Group and OSCE Asian Partner for Co-operation Australia. It continued to provide a valuable opportunity for OSCE participating States and Partners for Co-operation to share experiences and lessons learned on issues of common interest.