The 10th
Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) Summit of heads of state and government will
be chaired by European Union (EU) and hosted by Italy on October 16 and
17 this year in Milan. Theme of the summit: Responsible Partnership
for Sustainable Growth and Security, will be chaired by the President of
the European Council, Herman van Rompuy, in association with the
President of the European Commission, Jose Manuel Barroso. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is expected to attend the ASEM Summit, foreign office sources confirmed. She
is likely to fly on a regular Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight to Rome
on October 15, later to Milan by special arrangement by the host
country, Italy, foreign ministry officials told The Daily Observer. Bangladesh along with Norway and Switzerland joined ASEM during the last ASEM summit at Vientiane in Laos in November of 2012. The
main components of the ASEM process are the so-called three pillars: 1)
Political, 2) Economical, 3) Social, cultural and educational. Hasina
is likely to meet the Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi. However,
appointment for the sideline parley has not been finalised, foreign
office sources said. Her agenda for discussions on the sideline parleys would be further investment, trade and commerce. Apart
from meeting the Italian Prime Minister, she will also meet several
world leaders on the sidelines of the ASEM summit and the foreign office
has sought tentative appointments. The foreign office sources
refused to disclose the names of the world leaders Bangladesh Prime
Minister is likely to meet in Milan. ASEM, an interregional forum currently has 51 partners, 49 countries and 2 international organisations.
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