LAOS: Japan and EU leaders meet at ASEM summit as more delegates arrive in Laos

Record ID: 466808

  • Title: LAOS: Japan and EU leaders meet at ASEM summit as more delegates arrive in Laos
  • Date: 5th November 2012
  • Summary: VIENTIANE, LAOS (NOVEMBER 5, 2012) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF DON SHAN VILLA OFFICIALS STANDING OUTSIDE AND CAR ARRIVING JAPANESE PRIME MINISTER YOSHIHIKO NODA ARRIVING EUROPEAN COUNCIL PRESIDENT HERMAN VAN ROMPUY MEETING OFFICIALS NODA SITTING WITH JAPANESE DELEGATION EXTERIOR OF VIENTIANE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT THAI PRIME MINISTER YINGLUCK SHINAWATRA LEAVING PLANE AND GREETING OFFICIALS PLANE WITH SOLDIERS LINED UP SOLDIERS YINGLUCK WALKING TO CAR AND GETTING IN THAI DELEGATION LEAVING SOLDIERS MARCHING TOWARD PLANE CARRYING SWISS DELEGATION PRESIDENT OF SWITZERLAND EVELINE WIDMER-SCHLUMPF GREETING OFFICIALS SOLDIERS WIDMER-SCHLUMPF WALKING TOWARD CAR AND GETTING IN SWISS DELEGATION LEAVING
  • Embargoed: 20th November 2012 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Lao People's Democratic Republic
  • Country: Lao People's Democratic Republic
  • Topics: Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA1RYCDBUMOJIEUS2XF8CG3113F
  • Story Text: The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall are forced to abandon their official car after it breaks down in Papua New Guinea.

    Japan Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda and the President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy held a bilateral meeting in the Laos capital on Monday (November 5) at the start of the ninth biennial Asia-Europe Meeting.
    The meeting was closed to media, but high on the summit's agenda are discussions on trade between the two regions during the tough economic climate.
    Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra also arrived in Vientiane International Airport Monday in the morning to join the leaders of the summit. Her goal will be to try to restore confidence in Thailand's post-flood economy and to expand trade and investment in the region. Thailand's devastating floods last year took a heavy toll on investors.
    Heads of state from Europe and Asia along with the presidents of the European Council and European Commission as well as the Secretary General of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) are expected to join the opening ceremony and plenary sessions that will kick off later in the afternoon.
    The meetings will include discussions on the global economic situation, examining issues like the European debt crisis and the slowdown of economies in China and India.
    Other topics high on the agenda include strengthening cooperation between the regions and maintaining peace and stability.
    China and Japan are not expected to hold a bilateral meeting in light of the row over disputed islands in the East China Sea.
    ASEM has 52 partners in Asia and Europe and was established in 1996.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2012. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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