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In the fifth Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) to take place on 7-9 October in Hanoi, the ten new European Union (EU) member states and three Asian countries Cambodia, Laos and Burma will become members of this informal dialogue and process of cooperation. The main topic of the Meeting will be further enhancement and implementation of the Asia-Europe partnership. Currently, the ASEM unites 15 EU and 10 Asian countries. Minister of Foreign Affairs Antanas Valionis will lead the Lithuanian delegation in the fifth ASEM in Hanoi. The heads of delegations will participate in closed sessions, where they will discuss the international situation and new challenges on the international arena, prospects of economic partnership between Asia and Europe in the context of globalisation and open regionalism as well as significance of cultures in the era of informational technologies and globalisation. At the event, the Hanoi declaration on closer economic cooperation between Asia and Europe and the ASEM declaration on dialogue between cultures and civilisations are to be signed. 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.