12th Asia-Europe meeting (ASEM) summit begins today

The 12th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) summit begins in Brussels today. Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu, who reached the Belgian capital last night, will lead the Indian delegation at the two-day summit. 

The theme this year is, 'Global Partners for Global Challenges'. The summit will prioritise issues related to connectivity, trade and investment, sustainable development, climate change, terrorism, migration, maritime security and cyberspace. 

The meeting will bring together Heads of state of 30 European and 21 Asian countries, besides top representatives of the European Union and Secretary General of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Apart from the opening ceremony, Mr Naidu will participate in the plenary session of the summit and have interactions with various stakeholders. He will also have bilateral meetings with the Heads of State of various countries on the sidelines of the summit.

On the first day, Vice President M. Venkaiah



Naidu is scheduled to hold one to one meeting with the King of Belgians King Phillipe at Presidential Palace in Brussels (at noon time). Shri Naidu is likely to discuss the bilateral matters and issues of mutual interest and cooperation. 

He is likely to seek more cooperation to strengthen bilateral relations and also to deal with the global challenges through Asia Europe Meeting (ASEM) platform. Shri Naidu is scheduled to arrive at Europa Building for Opening Ceremony of ASEM Summit on Thursday evening (around 1925 hrs). This will be followed by his participation in the Special Session with the stakeholders.

During his stay, the Vice President will also hold a meeting with prominent Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) and CEOs of Belgium. He will address the Indian Diaspora at the Jain Culture Centre in Wilrijk, Antwerp. Mr Naidu will also pay floral tributes at the monument of Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi located at the Governorate of Antwerp.