| GEO Pakistan | | Gilani to attend ASEM Summit in China | Updated at: 0518 PST, Wednesday, October 22, 2008
 ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani will be visiting China from 23-25 October to attend the 7th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) Summit. Pakistan joined ASEM in 2006 and will be attending this apex gathering for the first time.
ASEM is an informal dialogue process initiated in 1996. It consists of 27 EU, 10 ASEAN and 6 Asian countries (China, India, Japan, Mongolia, Pakistan and Republic of Korea) and the EU Commission and ASEAN Secretariat. It aims at strengthening the relationship and mutual understanding between Asia and Europe.
Themes of the ASEM (2008) include Food Security, Disaster Preparedness and Management, International and Regional Developments, International Financial Situation, Promotion of Asia-Europe Trade and Investment, Millennium Development Goals, Energy Security, Climate Change, Social Cohesion and Deepening Dialogue amongst Civilizations.
At the end of the summit the documents that would be issued include Leaders’ statement on international financial situation, Beijing Declaration on Sustainable Development, Chairman’s Statement of ASEM-7, and Asia-Europe Cooperation Framework (2008).
Besides attending the meetings of the ASEM Summit, the Prime Minister will also hold bilateral meetings with Chinese leadership.
The Prime Minister will also be holding bilateral meetings with leaders of important Asian and European countries and discuss issues of mutual interest covering bilateral relations and international issues. |  |
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