The 2^nd ASEM High-level Meeting on Disability will review efforts and progress made by ASEM Partners in promoting ASEM disability cooperation in the past 2 years, share knowledge and experience in promoting inclusive development for persons with disabilities, and  discuss an action plan for future cooperation in the field of disability among ASEM Partners.

To further raise awareness on disability and to promote the development of work on disability in Asia, Europe and beyond through enhanced international cooperation, Chinese Premier LI Keqiang advocated the incorporation of disability issue into
ASEM cooperative framework during the 10^th ASEM Summit (ASEM10) in 2014. The initiative gained support from many ASEM Partners, among them Germany, New Zealand, Pakistan, and France.

To turn the initiative into action, the China Disabled Persons’ Federation (CDPF), along with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Beijing Municipal Government, hosted the 1^st ASEM High-level Meeting on Disability in October of 2015 in Beijing, under the theme, “Break Barriers for Inclusive Development”, in which the ASEM High-level Meeting on Disability Joint Initiative was formulated. The Meeting reaffirmed the 3 pillars for future ASEM disability cooperation: advancing social development, promoting human rights, and steering economic growth.