• Over 200 were from China, the majority from organisations that are part of the China NGO Network for International Exchanges (CNIE) but also a range of grassroots organisations and NGOs based in Beijing and Hong Kong.
• Over 200 were from other parts of Asia, representatives of important national networks and key regional issue-based formations or NGOs, e.g. human rights, peace and security, labour, migrants, trade, debt, women, water, ecology.

• Over 100 were from the European Union from 18 member states, mainly representatives of key Euro-wide issue-based networks and development institutions that focus mostly on Asia.

• There were a number of present and former members of Parliament, policy-makers, and state advisers (Malaysia, UK, Finland, Philippines, India, Romania, Spain, Pakistan, Vietnam, Greece, Italy) who attended.  AEPF can closely work with most of these in the future as the focus for the activities after the forum will be a ‘People’s Agenda for Parliamentarians.
• There were prominent development  activist- scholars who served as speakers/ resource persons for the plenaries, workshops, side events and strategy meetings. Among them were Pushpa Bhave, Walden Bello, Rodney Bicherstaffe, Brid Brennan,  Luciana Castellini, Anu and Kamal Chenoy, Ramon Duran, Koen de Feyter, Heidi Hautala, Ben Hayes,  Boris Kagarlitsky, Dot Keet,  Tran Dac Loi, Ruth Manorama, Seema Mustafa, Athanacius Pafilis, Pierre Rousset, Charles Santiago, Johannes Schmidt, Farooq Tariq, Achin Vanaik, Hillary Wainwright, and Christa Wichterich.

• The first workshop on the Rights of People Living with HIV/AIDS.  This was also an important workshop in the Chinese context.  
• An historic workshop linking a range of organizations including NGOs from inside Myanmar/Burma, as well as representatives of international solidarity formations for Myanmar/Burma, e.g. ALTSEAN BURMA Network, ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Myanmar Caucus (AIPMC), Euro-Burma Center, etc.  This led to what was considered by both the participants and the organisers as an auspicious and significant contribution to the people's dialogue with respect to Myanmar/ Burma. The fact that this workshop took place in Beijing has extra significance.
• The workshop on human rights brought together key national human rights groups in the ASEAN from Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam who were able to discuss the prospects and requirements of building an Asian regional human rights mechanism.  European human rights specialists also shared their insights and lessons in the workshop.
• Specific workshops included ones on strategies for conflict prevention; the arms trade; the MDGs, Food Sovereignty and Security; Migrant Labour; Decent Work and Labour Rights and Protection; Social Security; Alternative Energy policies; Climate Change and Ecological Justice; Local Governance: Participatory Democracy; Women’s Political Participation; Protecting Rights of the Disabled; Regional Human Rights Mechanisms in Asia and Europe.

• There were Strategy Meetings on the following: Migrant networks (Asia and Europe) , Urban  Poor formations (ASEAN), No Bases Network (global), EU-ASEAN FTA Campaign Network, Water Justice Network (Asia-Europe), and Women's Organisations (Asia, China and Europe). Most of these meetings resulted in the formulation of some resolutions and consolidation of ideas for post-Beijing actions that will be pursued.
• The campaign plan of the EU- ASEAN FTA coalition (a major AEPF campaign) for next year was firmed up. In addition, a new inter-regional advocacy towards parliamentarians and policy-makers, “Universalising Social Protection for the Poor in the Period of Crisis”, was planned that will be spearheaded by urban poor coalitions.
• Geographical caucuses of Burmese, Indian, Vietnamese and Philippine groups were held and AEPF-7 provided the venue for country-based organizations to discuss urgent issues and develop further cooperation in the future.
• A major result of these meetings was the proposals for AEPF expansion in South Asia. Three proposals from India, Pakistan, and Nepal were submitted to the AEPF International Organising Committee (IOC) to expand and activate AEPF committees in these countries and to hold a South Asia caucus in the near future. These proposals are proof that participants have realized the importance of AEPF.

Response to the Current Crises

Since AEPF-7 was held soon after the “eruption” of the financial meltdown in the US, the IOC provided a timely response to the present crises that was commended by most of the participants. First, the IOC ensured that the opening speeches of both speakers from Asia and Europe tackled not only the financial/economic crisis, but also the crises of food, energy and climate change. The two speakers showed that the current crises further endanger the lives of millions who are already impoverished and living in misery across the globe, and posed a compelling challenge to the participants.  
In addition, there was a series of nightly debates on the analysis of the financial/economic crisis as well as on possible solutions and alternatives. These rich and animated discussions produced a statement called “The Beijing Declaration” which summed up the key analysis and proposals in addressing the present crises.
 
Relationship with the Chinese Foreign Ministry

The AEPF-7 not only provided the venue to  build relations with the civil society in China, but it also gave an opportunity to present Asian and European issues and concerns to the Chinese government through its Foreign Ministry.

• Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi gave the opening keynote speech on Monday the 13th.  He had previously met with other speakers , MPs from Malaysia and Finland, and representatives from the AEPF International Organizing Committee and the National Organizing Committee.
• The Final Declaration was presented at the Foreign Ministry to Shen YongXiang, Deputy Director-general.
• The Final Declaration was presented at the ASEF Conference to Ambassador Wang Xuexian, Chinese Senior Official for ASEM .

The Forum received substantial support from the Chinese Foreign Ministry as well as clear encouragement for the Forum to take place and for the range of topics and participants.

Relationship with the European Commission and European Union Delegation

• Generous support from External Relations Directorate General and AIDCO, and realised commitment for 101 Asian participants (95 managed to actually attend)
• Excellent solidarity and support from the Head of the EU Delegation and staff in the Philippines  
• Invitations to the Head of Delegation and International Relations in the EU delegation in China
• Attendance by representatives from EU delegation in China
• Planned meetings with EU delegation in China after AEPF7  

 
Conclusion
    
AEPF-7 reached a new height in terms of advancing the perspective and interests of “the people” in Asia - Europe relations, especially in the areas of peace and security, democratisation and human rights, and social and economic rights. The event significantly helped in consolidating and expanding AEPF's network of progressive civil society organisations, in strengthening their existing campaigns, and in solidifying their linkages and working in between the biennial Forums on urgent issues common to both regions.

One very significant achievement of AEPF-7 was its timely response to the present crisis situation. It not only came up with alternative policy proposals, but it also paved the way for the coming together of sectors such as the poor, human rights and democratisation advocates, as well as the progressive parliamentarians who pursue the universalisation of social protection for the poor in the period of crisis.

It was a breakthrough that this civil society event could take place in China and take on critical global issues on peace, social and economic justice, democratisation and human rights. Moreover, the Forum provided an opportunity for the Chinese civil society to have exposure on these issues. As a result, members of the National Organising Committee in China expressed their willingness and openness to develop cooperation with the Asian and European civil society organizations in promoting AEPF and to further the issues of social and ecological justice.

Asian and European civil society also learned a lot from the interaction with the Chinese. Solidarity linkages between various Chinese NGOs and the Asian and European civil society organisations were forged as well as prospects for further cooperation in the future.
To quote a noted specialist on Asia-Europe relations: “The AEPF remains as the only permanent network linking Asian and European movements. It retains thus a significant function – all the more because Asia is a weak link in European solidarities; and Europe is a weak link (compared with the US!) in Asian solidarities”.  

Indeed, for over a decade now, AEPF has remained a rare and valuable vehicle for people's solidarity and joint actions across Asia and Europe.