‘Close encounter of a third kind?’ The inaugural Asia‐Europe meeting of March 1996

March 1996 saw the first meeting between selected states of East Asia and the European Union in Bangkok. The ASEM, as it became known, is argued to represent a new stage in European‐East Asian relations, a stage that sees the disappearance of the asymmetry that has for so long characterized the relationship. General observations may be premature, but at one level the meeting is a reflection of the ‘new assertiveness’ in Asia as ASEM attempts to provide a counterweight to APEC. ASEM fulfils a similar role for the Europeans but, as this paper argues, for different reasons. Moreover, the ASEM meeting offered a range of insights into the emerging nature of diplomatic ‘style’ in East Asia's relations with the rest of the world. The paper shows that the distinctions between ‘Asian’ and ‘Western’ ways of doing things may not be as great as some would often have us believe. The paper also suggests a series of issues that will condition the prospects of future cooperation between the two groupings; especially the issues of ‘who participates’ in future meetings and the role of ASEAN as a key actor in the process.