Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf arrived here on Sunday (Today) to attend the Asia-Europe Meeting Summit (ASEM-9), scheduled to be held here from November 5. This amalgamation of leaders from Europe and Asia is an international forum centred on the issues of Euro-Asian dialogue and culture, Ambassador of Pakistan to Lao People's Democratic Republic (PDR) (non-resident), Shahid M Kiani said.
Talking to APP here on Saturday, he said beside keynote address to the Summit, Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf will have important bilateral interactions with his counterparts during his stay in Laos capital. He said the Prime Minister Raja Pervez would brief his interlocutors about the regional situation and Pakistan's efforts for fighting terrorism.
Ambassador Kiani also said the Summit is a very important event that would have a positive impact on Pakistan's economic and commercial ties with other member states. He said during his two-day stay in Vientiane, the Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf is expected to hold meetings on the sidelines of Summit with Prime Minister of Finland, Jyrki Katainen, Prime Minister of Malaysia, Dato Sri Najib Bin Tun Razak, Prime Minister of Lao PDR, Thongsing Thammavong, President Indonesia, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Prime Minister of Russian Federation, Dmitry Anatolyevich Medvedev and Prime Minister of Australia, Julia Gillard.
Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf is also expected to hold meetings with President of European Council, Van Rompuy and President of Francem, Francois Hollande on November 5, 2012. Answering a question, he said the ASEM-9 under the theme: "Friends for It will provide yet another important occasion for Leaders of Asia and Europe to discuss regional, international issues of common interest and concern including among others, food and energy security, sustainable development, financial and economic crises, climate change, natural disaster response, socio-cultural co-operation and future direction of ASEM.