Vice President Venkaiah to lead the Indian delegation at ASEM Summit

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.

New Delhi: The 13th ASEM Summit with the theme "Strengthening Multilateralism for Shared Growth" will be held virtually on Nov 25 and 26, 2021. 

Vice President M. 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, an MEA statement said here.

Cambodia is hosting the 13th Summit as ASEM Chair. 

Asia–Europe Meeting (ASEM) is an Asian–European political dialogue forum, comprising countries such as Pakistan, Australia, Bangladesh, Belgium, Cambodia, China, Croatia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Laos, the Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Singapore, Turkey and the United Kingdom.  

Several Heads of State/Heads of Government are expected to participate in the Summit. 

The ASEM Agenda for 2021 will prioritize 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.

Along with the Opening Ceremony, the Vice President will also participate in the First Plenary Session and the Retreat Session of the Summit.

The statement said he would exchange views on areas like reformed multilateralism, fight against pandemic and post-pandemic recovery, mitigate 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 pillars–political and security, economic and financial and socio-cultural. 

The ASEM grouping comprises 51 member countries and two regional organizations–European Union and ASEAN. 

Countries in the grouping represent 65 per cent of global GDP, 60 per cent of the worldwide population, 75 per cent of international tourism and 55 per cent of global trade. 

The ASEM Summit is a biennial event alternating between countries in Asia and Europe.

India joined the ASEM process only in 2006. The 7th ASEM Summit held in 2008 saw the first Summit level participation from India.