ABSTRACT
Thus far we have mainly examined the EU's economic relations with its separate East Asian partners. In this chapter we shall concentrate on the regional and inter-regional dimensions aspects of the EU-East Asia economic relationship. As we shall discuss, regional dynamics are an important aspect of this relationship, a deeper mutual understanding of which will help close the significant cultural and psychic distance that persists between both regions. Hence, in the analysis that follows, the development of regionalism in East Asia and Europe is considered in some detail with comparisons and contrasts made where appropriate. The third section of the chapter examines the Asia-Europe Meetings (ASEM) and its introduction of an inter-regional 'dialogue framework' to EU-East Asian economic relations. It will be argued that the potential geoeconomic significance of the ASEM is considerable, although it may be some time before this is realised.
