THEY say the world is a village and for two days last week my world did shrink to a conference room in a hotel in Singapore and my “family” consisted of about 35 Asian and European scholars with a shared interest in exploring the past, present and future of Asia-Europe ties.

Although Asia-Europe relations are undoubtedly a niche subject, not a headline grabber, the meeting I attended was fascinating. Most people do not know — or possibly care — about ASEM, the process of Asia Europe Meetings that was launched in 1996 in a bid to draw the two regions closer together.

Lack of knowledge on ASEM is no surprise. The Asia-Europe connection hardly gets a look in as diplomats, academics, think-tankers and journalists talk and write incessantly and passionately about Washington’s ties with Asia and transatlantic relations.

America looms large over Asia and Europe, dominating the political and economic landscape as well as the security conversation. Asia-Europe relations, in contrast, are a well-kept secret. Certainly, a few determined scholars and journalists in both regions investigate and write on the subject. But they are few and far between.

And yet as the meeting in Singapore illustrated, we have much to talk about. Whether it’s dealing with Russia and China, coping with America, tackling climate change and urbanisation or worrying about the rise in nationalisms, Asians and Europeans share many concerns and confront many common challenges.

We intrigue each other: I went to Singapore, wanting very much to hear how friends and colleagues in the region view the rise in tensions in the East and South China Seas. Did they believe as many American and European scholars do that China is no longer the benign giant it once was and now wants quite simply to rule the region/world?

So many questions to ask and to reflect on. What can be done to defuse rising tensions between Japan and China? How is South Korea dealing with the mad man/men running North Korea? How long will Thailand’s generals stay in charge? What do other Asians think of the presidential candidates in Indonesia and the new man in charge in India?

Asian colleagues, meanwhile, had their own list of queries. An important concern was the results of the recently-held elections to the European Parliament and the rise of European populist and Far Right parties. Would the increased number of xenophobic and “Little Europe” politicians in the European assembly impact on European policies? How would relations with Russia be affected? What was Europe doing to get its economy back on track?

So undoubtedly there is much to discuss and to be curious about. And since this conversation is especially important today when both Asia and Europe are in the midst of immense change, why is so little written and said about ASEM, the prime 51-member forum for exchanges between the two regions?

Firstly, because what was once an exciting, innovative and very relevant initiative, based on the overarching joint Asia-Europe need to generate growth and jobs, has been transformed into a repetitive, tedious and ritualistic process.

The first ASEM summit in Bangkok in 1996 was an informal get-together of about two dozen Asian and European presidents and prime ministers who felt a very real need to talk to each other — without the presence of the United States. That flexible and informal networking among politicians with things to say to each other has over the years been replaced by endless preparatory discussions and the negotiation of long texts by “senior officials” ie bureaucrats. To revive ASEM, leaders and ministers need to seize back the initiative from bureaucrats.

Second, ASEM needs a content update. True, ASEM summits which are held every two years, deal with many worthy issues, including economic growth, regional and global tensions, climate change and the like. Also true that Asian and European ministers meet even more frequently to discuss questions like education, labour reform, inter-faith relations and river management. This is worthy and significant — but also too much.

ASEM needs a sharper focus on growth and jobs, combating extremism and tackling hard and soft security issues. Women in both Asia and Europe face many societal and economic challenges. Freedom of expression is under attack in both regions.

As preparations pick up pace for the 10th ASEM summit in Milan on October 16-17, the focus must switch from process to content. Questions related to the current unease in relations between China, Japan and South Korea need to be addressed. Asians need to know more about the rise of populism in Europe and its impact on policies.

The talk now is about renewal and revival — putting fresh oomph into ASEM, bringing it into the 21st century. Having written about Asia-Europe relations for a long part of my journalistic career, I favour a true resetting and updating of ASEM. Frankly, it’s time for an ASEM reboot.

The writer is Dawn’s correspondent in Brussels.

Published in Dawn, June 14th, 2014