Making a statement

At the ASEM meeting, the European and Asian ministers turned up the heat on Burma Tuesday, offering the strongest condemnation yet of the regime's treatment of political prisoners, said Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt.

"It's a substantial increase of the political pressure on the regime," he said, referring to a concluding statement on Burma.

The international community has been incensed by Burma's treatment of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who has been under house arrest for years. Suu Kyi is currently on trial for violating her conditions of arrest after an American man evaded guards and swam across a small lake to her house. If convicted, she could face five years in prison.

While Burma's ruling junta generally ignores European criticism over its human rights record, there were signs that the military generals were angry about criticism from China and Vietnam.

"I think the Burmese regime has miscalculated and has been somewhat taken aback by the force of international reaction," said British junior foreign minister Bill Rammell.

North Korea called on to halt nuclear tests

Another contentious topic was North Korea's latest nuclear test. Monday's underground detonation was a "clear violation" of existing agreements and United Nations Security Council resolutions, ASEM said in a closing statement.

The resolution called on North Korea to refrain from any future tests.

North Korea has rejected criticism of its tests, calling the explosion a "self-defense measure." North Korea also reportedly fired three short-range missiles on Monday and South Korea's Yonhap news agency quoted an unnamed official as saying it was likely to launch more on Tuesday or Wednesday.

Concern over environment, global economy

While North Korea and Burma took up most of the ministers' time, general agreements were also reached on other issues.

ASEM ministers warned against protectionism during the global economic downturn, noting that trade barriers would further harm the world economy and delay recovery.

Ministers also expressed concerns over food and oil prices, which continue to fluctuate. ASEM members noted that the volatility made growth difficult.

Ministers also discussed climate change, promising to strengthen cooperation within ASEM to ensure that an upcoming climate change conference in Copenhagen in December can reach an "ambitious, effective and comprehensive outcome."

th/AFP/dpa/Reuters

Editor: Susan Houlton