VP Naidu arrives in Brussels for 12th ASEM Summit

Indian Vice President Venkaiah Naidu arrived in Brussels on Thursday ahead of the 12th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) Summit.

During his visit, the Vice President is slated to participate in the Plenary Session of the Summit and hold interactions with various stakeholders. He will also call on His Majesty, the King of the Belgians and have bilateral meetings with the heads of state/government from Austria, Portugal, Switzerland and other countries on the sidelines of the Summit.

Naidu will also address the Indian Diaspora at the Jain Culture Centre in Wilrijk, Antwerp and offer a floral tribute at a sculpture of Mahatma Gandhi located in the Governorate at Antwerp.

This will be the first multi-lateral summit the Vice President will be attending after assuming office in August last year.

The theme of this year's ASEM Summit is 'Global Partners for Global Challenges'. The bi-annual event is considered the highest platform for dialogue and cooperation between Asia and Europe in the areas of trade, investment, security and tourism.

As many as 51 heads of states/heads of government are expected to participate in the two-day summit, where a wide array of issues ranging from climate change to terrorism are expected to be discussed.