Finland to host ASEM summit in September 2006

The Finnish government announced on Friday that the sixth Asia-Europe meeting (ASEM) would be held in Helsinki on Sept. 10-11, 2006.

The date of the summit, originally scheduled for Sept. 14-15, 2006, was changed after it coincided with a meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement countries to be held on Sept. 15-16 in Havana, Cuba.

The Helsinki summit marks the tenth anniversary of the ASEM, which is expected to bring together at least 39 delegations from the two continents.

The ASEM constitutes a forum for informal dialogues between the heads of states and governments to exchange their views on important issues agreed upon by all ASEM members.

A summit is held every two years and the venue alternates between Asia and Europe. Finland is to hold the rotating EU presidency during the summit.

Source: Xinhua