Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is likely to attend the 10th Asia-Europe Meeting (Asem) Summit in Milan, Italy in October where the heads of state and government of the 27 European countries and the European Commission, as well as their counterparts from 16 Asian countries, will gather.
“She [Hasina] attended the last meeting in Laos in 2012, and is expected to take part in this meeting too,” said an official of the Foreign Ministry.
Bangladesh joined the forum of 49 countries and organisations in Europe and Asia in 2012.
The 10th summit will be hosted by Italy from October 16-17 in Milan and chaired by the European Union.
The Asem deals with three broad issues – social, economical and developmental – in which Bangladesh has immense interest, the official said.
Following the January 5 election, the ruling government wants to have extensive engagement with developed countries especially those in the European Union.
In addition, there are many small countries in the forum, with whom Bangladesh does not have much interaction, he said.
“This type of forum provides an opportunity to interact with the leaders of those countries over a cup of coffee and find new areas of cooperation or to resolve disputed issues, if any,” the official said.
The Asem started its journey in 1996 with 26 members in Bangkok to build a new partnership between Asia and Europe. It is the only platform where countries from the regions can interact with each other exclusively.