News

Lithuania together with the other nine new European Union member states and three Asian countries Cambodia, Laos and Burma have become members of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM). The official ceremony of the expansion of this informal dialogue and cooperation process was held on 7 October in Hanoi, on the eve of the fifth ASEM summit. In the ASEM, the Lithuanian delegation is headed by Minister of Foreign Affairs Antanas Valionis. The main topic of the meeting, taking place on 8-9 October in the Vietnamese capital, is a further enhancement and implementation of the Asian-European partnership. This meeting also provides with excellent opportunities for bilateral dialogue with Asian countries. In Hanoi, Minister Valionis met Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs Alberto Romulo and discussed the possibilities for Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to visit Lithuania in the beginning of next year. Currently, 38 countries and the European Commission belong to the ASEM. Participation in the ASEM is important for Lithuania as one more opportunity to strengthen relations with Eastern and Southeastern Asia, one of the most dynamically developing regions in the world. The meetings of the EU and Asian leaders take place once in two years in Asia and Europe alternatively. At the meetings, heads of states or governments and the President of the European Commission develop the main guidelines for further implementation of this process.