A life of its own
AN OUTBREAK of domes and bouncy castles on Horse Guards Parade portends the arrival of Asem. Asem? This is the boondoggle that burst on my sight like a nova when John Major went to Bangkok. At that meeting of Asia's and Europe's heads of government (plus full supporting cast of thousands) a good time — oh, all right, then, a constructive time — was had by all. They admired the Greater South- East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere in its new incarnation, and they predictably agreed to have the next Asia-Europe Meeting in Lon- don. Since then, of course, the sphere has gone pop and all the assumptions of the Bangkok meeting have been overtaken by events, but never mind. Asem has devel- oped a life of its own and is good for air tickets and hotel rooms and jolly nights out and goes on the bouncy castles. All that this meeting will have to decide is when and where to hold the next one. I have an each- way bet on Bali.
Previous page
