KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 2 (Bernama) -- The upcoming Eight Asian-Europe Meeting (Asem 8) to be held in Brussels, Belgium, beginning Monday will be a vital platform to coordinate policies and agenda for its members, says Ambassador and Head of the European Union Delegation to Malaysia, Vincent Piket. European and Asian participants in Asem, representing about 58 per cent of the world population and 60 per cent of world trade, will gather for the two-day summit to promote international peace and security in equal partnership and to pursue region-to-region dialogue on issues of common concern.

"It is an inter-governmental framework, not a decision making of specific topics but it is vital and a very successful platform for coordinating the policies and the agenda and so on for Europe and Asia," he told Bernama here.

The Asia-Europe Summit Meeting is held once every two years, on the level of heads of state and heads of government.

The eight edition, themed "Quality of LIfe" is organised by host country, Belgium, the current chair of the European Union (EU).

"I think that is evident that it has been chosen in light of the climate change reality that all of us face.

"It is also in this light that many disasters, particularly natural ones induced by men, that both Europe and Asia have seen in the past years and in the last weeks we have seen horrible example of things," he pointed.

The envoy said in line with the theme, "we hope our leaders will come to a very operational conclusion on how we can further boost cooperation".

"We expect all Asian members to be present. This time around it will involve not just countries of the 27 EU member-states, but 10 Asean countries and three new members namely Russia, Australia and New Zealand.

"Asem is growing and that shows countries across the board value this sort of dialogue that Asem promotes," he said.

Earlier at the preceding summit in Beijing, Belgium Prime Minister Yves Leterme suggested the Brusels 2010 Summit should be a further step in achieving greater well-being and more dignity for all citizens.
Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak is scheduled to attend the summit.