Vice President Venkaiah Naidu leaves for Brussels to attend 12th ASEM summit

Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu will leave for Brussels in Belgium today to attend the 12th Asia Europe Meeting (ASEM) summit. Mr Naidu will lead the Indian delegation at the two day Summit beginning tomorrow.

Apart from the Opening Ceremony, Vice President will participate in the Plenary Session and have interactions with the various stakeholders. He will also have bilateral meetings with the Heads of State from various countries on the sidelines of the Summit.

The theme of this year’s ASEM Summit is "Global Partners for Global Challenges”.

ASEM Agenda for 2018 will prioritize issues related to connectivity, trade and investment, sustainable



development, climate change, terrorism, migration, maritime security and cyberspace. Leaders will seek to strengthen dialogue and cooperation between the two continents on a wide range of areas.

The Summit will bring together Heads of state or governments of 30 European and 21 Asian countries besides top representative of the European Union and Secretary General of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Mr Naidu will also address the Indian Diaspora at the Jain Culture Centre in WILRIJK, ANTWERP. Mr Naidu will also pay floral tribute at a monument of father of Nation Mahatma Gandhi located in the Governorate of Antwerp.