亞洲和歐洲地緣相連，屬于同一大陸，古代的絲綢之路就是亞歐悠久互聯(lián)互通歷史的具體例證。互聯(lián)互通是當(dāng)前亞歐國家普遍關(guān)注的領(lǐng)域。在2012年第九屆亞歐首腦會議上，亞歐會議成員領(lǐng)導(dǎo)人一致強調(diào)要通過互聯(lián)互通建設(shè)推動區(qū)域經(jīng)濟一體化。2013年11月，中國外交部長王毅在出席第十一屆亞歐外長會議時提出，將建設(shè)“絲綢之路經(jīng)濟帶”與亞歐合作有機結(jié)合起來，推進新的區(qū)域一體化進程，建議亞歐智庫與學(xué)者就此開展研究，為領(lǐng)導(dǎo)人決策提供有益的參考。2014年在意大利米蘭舉行的第十屆亞歐首腦會議主席聲明中指出：領(lǐng)導(dǎo)人強調(diào)亞歐互聯(lián)互通對兩地區(qū)經(jīng)濟繁榮與可持續(xù)發(fā)展，促進人員、貨物、投資、能源、信息和知識無縫自由流通以及擴大機構(gòu)聯(lián)系的重要性。

2014年7月在上海舉行了主題為互聯(lián)互通的亞歐智庫研討會。會后發(fā)表的《主席聲明》指出，互聯(lián)互通為深化亞歐合作提供了新機遇，應(yīng)作為優(yōu)先領(lǐng)域納入亞歐會議合作框架，并以此為突破口帶動更廣領(lǐng)域的亞歐務(wù)實合作，為亞歐會議注入新的活力；強調(diào)務(wù)實合作對推進互聯(lián)互通至關(guān)重要，應(yīng)鼓勵亞歐會議成員就此提出可行性的合作路徑加以落實，提高合作成效；應(yīng)就有關(guān)合作加強成員間及次區(qū)域間的協(xié)調(diào)等。與會各方歡迎中方提出的“絲綢之路經(jīng)濟帶”和“21世紀(jì)海上絲綢之路”倡議，支持東盟制訂并落實《東盟互聯(lián)互通總體規(guī)劃》；認為上述倡議契合了亞歐互聯(lián)互通的需要，有助于深化亞歐經(jīng)貿(mào)合作，加強各成員及各次區(qū)域間的全方位聯(lián)系；呼吁將上述倡議落到實處，造福亞歐人民。與會各方還就下步如何推進亞歐互聯(lián)互通提出具體建議，包括重啟亞歐經(jīng)濟部長會議、定期舉辦亞歐交通部長會議、更新并加強落實《貿(mào)易便利化行動計劃》和《促進投資行動計劃》、加大政府投入力度和鼓勵私營部門參與、進一步發(fā)揮智庫作用等。

隨著亞歐間合作的深化以及共同利益的拓展，區(qū)域間貨物、服務(wù)、資本與人員更加高效流動不僅是迫切需要，也已具備可能性。亞歐會議成員間加強互聯(lián)互通，拓展合作領(lǐng)域、推進區(qū)域一體化的呼聲日益增強。中國國務(wù)院總理李克強在第十屆首腦會議上提出承辦亞歐互聯(lián)互通產(chǎn)業(yè)對話會倡議，受到亞歐各方歡迎。

亞歐互聯(lián)互通產(chǎn)業(yè)對話會于2015年5月27日至28日在重慶舉辦，會議以“創(chuàng)新引領(lǐng)行動，推進亞歐互聯(lián)互通”為主題，旨在為亞歐會議官、產(chǎn)、學(xué)、研各界代表共商推進亞歐互聯(lián)互通大計提供平臺，就亞歐互聯(lián)互通的機遇與挑戰(zhàn)、推進方式、投融資模式等問題進行深入探討并提出建議。具體議題包括亞歐互聯(lián)互通新機遇與產(chǎn)業(yè)合作未來、以重點領(lǐng)域合作提升區(qū)域聯(lián)通水平、推進互聯(lián)互通中貿(mào)易投資和金融合作創(chuàng)新、打造各界共同參與合作的新格局和探索亞歐互聯(lián)互通未來發(fā)展之路。

ASEM Industry Dialogue on Connectivity

Asia and Europe are geopolitically linked and located in the same continental plate.The ancient Silk Road is the specific example for their long-standing connectivity history.The universal concerned field of Asian and European countries is connectivity.At the 9th ASEM Summit held in 2012,the leaders of ASEM members emphasized the promotion of regional economic integration via construction of connectivity.In November 2013,Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi proposed at the 11th ASEM Foreign Ministers' Meeting that the construction of "Silk Road Economic Belt" and ASIA-Europe cooperation should be properly combined to promote new regional integration process and suggested that the Asia-Europe think tank and scholars conduct relevant study to provide useful reference for decision-making of the leaders.It was stated in the Chairman’s Statement at the 10th ASEM Summit held in Milan,Italy,2014 that the leaders should emphasize the importance of Asia-Europe connectivity in driving the economic prosperity and sustainable development of two regions,promoting seamless free circulation of personnel,goods,investment,energy,information and knowledge and increasing institutional links.

In July 2014,the Asia-Europe Think-Tank Seminar on connectivity was held in Shanghai.The Chairman’s Statement released after the Seminar pointed out that the connectivity provides new chance to deepen Asia-Europe cooperation and shall be included as a priority field into ASEM cooperation framework to drive,with this as breakthrough,Asia-Europe pragmatic cooperation in a broader field and to inject new vitality to ASEM and emphasized that pragmatic cooperation is of great importance to promote connectivity and ASEM members shall be encouraged to put forward and implement feasible cooperative routes so as to improve cooperation effectiveness and that the coordination among members and subregions related to cooperation shall be strengthened.The participants welcome the initiatives of "Silk Road Economic Belt" and "21st Century Maritime Silk Road" proposed by China and support ASEAN in the formulation and implementation of the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity.They think that the above mentioned initiatives suit the need of Asia-Europe connectivity and can help deepen Asia-Europe economic and trade cooperation and enhance overall relations between members and between subregions.Therefore,it calls that the said initiatives are implemented to benefit the Asian-European people.Furthermore,the participants also made such concrete suggestions on how to advance Asia –Europe connectivity as re-initiation of ASEM Economic Ministers' Meeting,regular holding of ASEM Transport Ministers' Meeting,upgrade and implementation of Trade Facilitation Action Plan and Investment Promotion Action Plan,increased investment of government and encouraged participation of private sector,and bigger role of think tank.

With the deepening of Asia-Europe cooperation and the expansion of common interest,it is not only urgent but also possible for more efficient circulation of goods,service,capital and personnel between regions.It is increasingly urgent for ASEM members to enhance connectivity,expand cooperation fields and boost regional integration.At the 10th ASEM Submit,an initiative on undertaking ASEM Industry Dialogue on Connectivity was proposed by Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and welcomed by all the members.

On May 27 - 28,2015,ASEM Industry Dialogue on Connectivity will be held in Chongqing and themed "Advancing Asia-Europe Connectivity through Innovation".This Dialogue aim at providing a platform for the representatives of the government,the industry,the academia,the research circles to jointly explore and promote Asia-Europe connectivity plans and to make indepth exploration of and suggestions on such issues as opportunities and challenges,promotion mode,and investment ＆ financing modes related to Asia-Europe connectivity.The concrete issues under discussion will include new opportunities created by Asia-Europe connectivity and future of industry cooperation,promotion of regional connectivity level by way of cooperation in key fields,promotion of trade investment and financial cooperation innovation in connectivity,establishment of new pattern featuring mutual participation and cooperation of all circles,exploration of future development road for Asia-Europe connectivity.