在日益錯綜復雜且相互依賴的世界中，想要占據一席之地，互聯(lián)互通必不可少。這對于個人、機構、公司、各大洲、地區(qū)和國家來說，都是不爭的事實。社交媒體網站的發(fā)展便印證了個人與集體間日益緊密的聯(lián)系。

缺少與外界保持聯(lián)接會導致影響力的缺乏。也就是說，沒有發(fā)言權，沒有立場也沒有機會產生影響力。這對于個人而言是這樣，對于國家而言亦然。在風云變幻的21世紀，那些具備影響力的國家就是那些與世界其他地區(qū)互聯(lián)互通的國家。

因此，歐盟才急于打破其28個成員國間的貿易、服務及商品流通壁壘。也正因為如此，美國和歐盟正協(xié)商簽署野心勃勃的跨大西洋貿易與投資伙伴關系協(xié)定（TTIP）以促進貿易。同時美國還希望在年底前簽訂跨太平洋戰(zhàn)略經濟伙伴關系協(xié)定（TPP）。

亞洲各國將備受關注的互聯(lián)互通計劃提上議程。由東南亞國家聯(lián)盟（ASEAN）提出的“互聯(lián)互通總體規(guī)劃”在涵蓋范圍和內容上都非常引人矚目。當然，中國“一帶一路”戰(zhàn)略的提出也在世界范圍內掀起浪潮。

這些舉措表明，互聯(lián)互通能夠也的確具有不同形式。互聯(lián)互通的第一個重點就是交通——即修路、建橋、鋪設鐵路以及開拓航海線和航線。其次是數字網絡。

互聯(lián)互通也指建立一個網絡，將人們、學校、高校、媒體、公民社會組織、公司、政府及機構聯(lián)系起來。

互聯(lián)互通能夠促進貿易投資，提高就業(yè)，惠及經濟。同時也可促進創(chuàng)新，增進相互理解。當然，也能促進和平穩(wěn)定。

因此，人們欣喜地看到亞歐間的互聯(lián)互通正在引起重視。它成為了亞歐會議（ASEM）的重點議題，也被廣泛認為是在該論壇成立第三個十年中，重振峰會的重要發(fā)力點。

第一屆亞歐首腦會議于1996年在泰國曼谷舉辦，與當年相比，或是與十年前相比，如今亞歐地區(qū)間的貿易、商業(yè)、安全與文化交流更為密切。亞歐會議即將于明年蒙古承辦第11屆首腦會議期間迎來成立20周年，互聯(lián)互通預計將成為加強亞歐合作的重要引擎。

亞歐經濟上的互聯(lián)互通已經得到發(fā)展。2012年的亞歐總貿易額約為13.7萬億歐元，亞洲已成為歐盟的主要貿易伙伴，占歐盟對外總貿易額的三分之一，超過北美自由貿易區(qū)（NAFTA）。歐洲在亞洲的對外投資超過總投資額的四分之一，同時，亞洲的迅速崛起的跨國公司也正在歐洲尋求商業(yè)機會。

亞歐雙方希望協(xié)商簽訂自由貿易協(xié)定和投資協(xié)定，反映了其日益緊密的聯(lián)系。歐盟和中國目前正在磋商雙邊投資協(xié)定。歐洲與韓國、新加坡簽訂的自由貿易協(xié)定以及與日本、印度和一些東盟國家簽訂的類似協(xié)定都在加強亞歐關系中起到了重要作用。

除了貿易和經濟領域，亞歐其他諸多領域的合作也加強了雙方的聯(lián)系。亞歐多國政府部門和機構間頻繁對話，內容涉及氣候變化、流行病、非法移民、海上安全、城市化、綠色發(fā)展等領域。這表明各國都意識到，要解決21世紀的各種問題，必須加強全球治理，如若不行，則通過跨國和跨地區(qū)結盟，實現聯(lián)合治理。

重要的是，互聯(lián)互通是亞歐會議的流行詞。去年在米蘭召開的亞歐首腦會議強調了亞歐互聯(lián)互通（包括數字聯(lián)通）的重要性。各國領導人強調加強聯(lián)系能夠促進經濟繁榮與可持續(xù)發(fā)展，推動人民、貿易、投資、能源、信息、知識和創(chuàng)意方面的自由無縫往來，并加強制度關聯(lián)。

會議敦促建立一個綜合、可持續(xù)、安全、高效、便捷的航空、海上及陸地運輸系統(tǒng)，其中包括亞歐地區(qū)內部及亞歐地區(qū)間的聯(lián)合運輸解決方案。在歐盟統(tǒng)一市場的管理及東盟互聯(lián)互通總體規(guī)劃的實施等方面，會議還強調了在有著共同利益的領域進行實踐和經驗交流的有用性。

在里加召開的亞歐交通部長會議討論了在亞歐間發(fā)展交通網絡的共同愿景，并強調了兩個地區(qū)間的互聯(lián)互通對于實現經濟繁榮和可持續(xù)發(fā)展的重要性。會議特別強調了鐵路聯(lián)接的重要性。

當然，關于亞歐互聯(lián)互通的討論主要圍繞中國國家主席習近平提出的絲綢之路經濟帶和21世紀海上絲綢之路（合稱“一帶一路”）展開?！耙粠б宦贰敝荚诮蓷l輻射多國的經濟走廊，為中歐雙方在基建、貿易投資、以及能源與資源方面的后續(xù)合作創(chuàng)造新機遇。

這項倡議也引起了很多質疑。歐洲要如何從絲綢之路經濟帶的建設中獲益呢？中歐基建及互聯(lián)互通政策間的協(xié)同效應有何潛力？哪些行業(yè)將從該項合作中獲益最多？亞投行將在“一帶一路”倡議的融資中扮演何種角色？青年和婦女將在亞歐互聯(lián)互通的推動中扮演何種角色？

亞歐會議只是促進基建互聯(lián)互通還是也能推動制度及人民互聯(lián)互通？同在里加召開的亞歐教育部長會議中，這些疑問得到了回應。會議強調了兩地區(qū)在學生、教師、研究人員、創(chuàng)意及知識交流等領域之合作的重要性。

最后，雖然加強互聯(lián)互通能夠促進商業(yè)和貿易發(fā)展，但隨之而來的安全隱患，如武器、毒品的跨國交易及跨國的恐怖活動也亟待解決。

Getting connected: the secret to reviving Asia-Europe ties

To count in an increasingly complex and interdependent world,you have to be connected.This is true for individuals,institutions,companies,continents,regions and countries.The growth of social media sites is testimony to the increased connectivity of individuals and groups.

No connections translate into lack of influence.It means no voice,no role,no chance to make an impact.What’s true for individuals is also true for countries.Nations which have clout in this rapidly-changing 21st Century are those that are connected to the rest of the world.

That’s why the European Union is busy breaking down internal barriers to trade,services and the movement of goods among its 28 member states.It is also the reason that the EU and the United States are negotiating an ambitious and tradeboosting Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) and it is also why the US is also hoping to conclude the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations by the end of the year.

Asians are embarked on a headline-grabbing connectivity agenda of their own.The Connectivity Masterplan drawn up by ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) is impressive in its scope and content.And of course China’s “One Belt,One Road”initiative is making waves worldwide.

As these different initiatives illustrate,connectivity can and does take many forms.The first focus is clearly on transport – building roads,bridges,railways as well as maritime and air routes.There are also digital networks.

Connectivity is also about building networks that connect people,schools and colleges,media,civil society organisations,businesses,policymakers and institutions.

Being connected is good for the economy by helping to boost trade and investments and create jobs.It is good for creativity and innovation.It is good for fostering mutual understanding.And of course it is very good for peace and stability.

And that’s why is encouraging to see the attention now being paid to Asia-Europe connectivity.The topic is high on the agenda of ASEM (Asia Europe Meetings) and is being widely recognised as a vital element in efforts to revive ASEM for its third decade.

Certainly,compared to 1996 when ASEM was first launched in Bangkok in 1996 or even ten years ago,there is now a stronger EU-Asian conversation on trade,business,security and culture.As ASEM celebrates its 20th anniversary in Mongolia next year,connectivity is expected to be an important driver for further Asia-Europe cooperation.

Asia-Europe economic connectivity has grown.With total Asia-Europe trade in 2012 estimated at €1.37 trillion,Asia has become the EU’s main trading partner,accounting for a third of total trade and surpassing the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).More than a quarter of European outward investments head for Asia while Asia’s emerging global players are seeking out business deals in Europe.

The increased connectivity is reflected in the mutual Asia-Europe quest to negotiate Free Trade Agreements and investment accords.The EU and China are currently negotiating a bilateral investment agreement.The FTAs concluded by the EU with South Korea and Singapore and similar deals under negotiation with Japan,India and individual ASEAN countries are important in consolidating EU-Asia relations.

Beyond trade and economics,Asia and Europe are linked through an array of cooperation accords.Discussions on climate change,pandemics,illegal immigration,maritime security,urbanization and green growth,among others,are frequent between multiple government ministries and agencies in both regions,reflecting a growing recognition that 21st century challenges can only be tackled through improved global governance and,failing that,through “patchwork governance”involving cross-border and cross-regional alliances.

Importantly,connectivity is the new ASEM buzzword.The significance of Asia-Europe connectivity – including digital connectivity - was underscored by the ASEM summit in Milan last year,with leaders underlining the contribution increased ties could make to economic prosperity and sustainable development and to promoting free and seamless movement of people,trade,investment,energy,information,knowledge and ideas and greater institutional linkages.

The summit urged the establishment of an integrated,sustainable,secure,efficient and convenient air,maritime and land transportation system,including intermodal solutions,in and between Asia and Europe.It also noted the usefulness of an exchange of best practices and experiences on areas of common interest,relating for example to the governance of the EU Single Market and the implementation of the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity.

A meeting of ASEM transport ministers held in Riga discussed a common vision for the development of transport networks between Asia and Europe and emphasized the significance of connectivity between the two regions for achieving economic prosperity and sustainable development.The importance of railway links was especially underlined.

Certainly,much of the talk on Asia-Europe connectivity is centred on Chinese President Xi Jinping’s plans for the Silk Road Economic Belt and a 21st Century Maritime Silk Road (termed together “One Belt,One Road”) aimed at building two economic corridors with important development implications for many nations,creates new opportunities for further China-EU cooperation in areas such as infrastructure,trade and investment as well as energy and resources.

The initiative raises many questions: How will Europe benefit from the construction of the Silk Road Economic Belt? What is the potential for synergies between the Chinese and European infrastructure and connectivity policies? Which sectors are likely to benefit most from such cooperation? What will be the role of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) in financing the “One Belt,One Road”initiative? What is the role of youth and women in the drive to connect Asia and Europe?

Is it only about infrastructure or can ASEM also encourage institutional and people-to-people connectivity? The answer was given at a meeting of ASEM education ministers – also in Riga – which highlighted the importance Asia-Europe cooperation in areas like mobility of students,teachers,researchers,ideas and knowledge.

And finally,while increased connectivity would offer opportunities for business and trade,the darker security implications linked to the cross border movement of arms,drugs and terrorists also need to be addressed.