FM to lead Bangladesh delegation in Brussels ASEM summit

Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali will be leading Bangladesh delegation at the 12th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) summit that will take place on October 18-19 in Brussels, Belgium, reports UNB.

The minister, who is accompanying Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), will go to Brussels from Saudi Arabia.

On the sidelines, he will be meeting Danish Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen and Swiss President Alain Berset, an official said.

Maltese Foreign Minister Carmelo Abela and Portuguese State Secretary for Foreign Affairs Teresa Ribeiro will also call on Bangladesh Foreign Minister, he said.

Inclusive growth and connectivity is on the agenda of the ASEM summit while European Council President Donald Tusk will chair the summit.

The ASEM summit will bring together heads of state or governments of 51 European and Asian countries representatives of the European Union the Secretary General of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker will also represent the EU at the summit.

Discussions will focus on the theme "Europe and Asia: global partners for global challenges".

Leaders will seek to strengthen dialogue and cooperation between the two continents on a wide range of areas, including trade and investment, connectivity, sustainable development and climate, security challenges such as terrorism, non-proliferation, cyber-security and irregular migration.