VIENTIANE, 5 November 2012 - Three new countries, Bangladesh, Norway and Switzerland officially became members of the Asia-Europe Meeting process today during the opening ceremony of the 9th ASEM Summit.

Representing the three countries' entry into ASEM were Bangladesh Prime Minister H.E. Mrs Sheikh Hasina; Norway Prime Minister H.E. Mr Jens Stoltenberg; and Swiss President H.E. Madam Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf.