The 13th ASEM Summit with the theme "Strengthening Multilateralism for Shared Growth" will be held virtually on 25 26 November, 2021. Hon'ble Vice President of India, Shri Venkaiah Naidu will lead the Indian Delegation for the Summit, which is expected to see participation from all 51 member countries, and ASEAN & European Union. This Summit will also mark the 25th anniversary of the ASEM process.
The 13th Summit is being hosted by Cambodia as ASEM Chair. A number of Heads of States / Heads of Government are expected to participate in the Summit. ASEM Agenda for 2021 will prioritize on issues related to strengthening multilateralism, post-Pandemic Socio-Economic Recovery and Development as well as other regional and global issues of common interest and concern. Also Read.. Maldives government contradicts the 'India out' slogan and condemns attempts to to spread false information about India
Along with the Opening Ceremony, Vice President will also participate in the First Plenary Session as well as the Retreat Session of the Summit and will exchange views on areas like reformed multilateralism, fight against pandemic and post-pandemic recovery, mitigating global climate change, Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), maritime safety and security, etc.
ASEM is a platform for the countries in Asia and Europe to exchange views on regional and global issues and strengthen cooperation on a wide range of areas emanating from its three political and security, economic and financial and socio-cultural. The ASEM grouping comprises of 51 member countries and 2 regional organizations - European Union and ASEAN. Countries in the grouping represent 65% of global GDP, 60% of the global population, 75% of global tourism and 55% of global trade. The ASEM Summit is a biennial event alternating between country in Asia and Europe and is the foremost event of ASEM process to set its priorities for dialogue and cooperation between Asia and Europe in the areas of political, economic, financial, social, cultural, and educational issues of common interest in a spirit of mutual respect and equal partnership. India joined ASEM process in 2006. The 7th ASEM Summit held in 2008 saw the first Summit level participation from India. Also Read.. India, ADB sign $300 million loan to improve primary health care in India
What is
ASEM?
The Asia–Europe Meeting (ASEM) is an Asian–European political dialogue forum to
enhance relations and various forms of cooperation between its partners. It was
officially established on 1 March 1996 at the 1st ASEM Summit (ASEM1) in Bangkok, Thailand, by the then 15 Member States of the European
Union (EU) and the European
Commission, the then 7 Member States of the Association
of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and the
individual countries of China, Japan, and South Korea. A series of enlargements saw additional EU
Member States join as well as India, Mongolia, Pakistan and
the ASEAN Secretariat in
2008, Australia, New
Zealand and Russia in 2010, Bangladesh, Norway,
and Switzerland in 2012, as well as Croatia, and Kazakhstan in 2014 and Turkey in 2021.