Cowen to address Beijing summit

Taoiseach Brian Cowen will today address the seventh Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) in Beijing.

Among other heads of state to speak will be China’s President Hu Jintao, the President of Finland Tarja Halonen and French President Nicolas Sarkozy for the EU Presidency.

The theme of the discussions is Vision and Action: Towards a Win-Win Solution.

Leaders will focus their discussions on political, economic and social as well as cultural issues, including issues related to sustainable development.

The Asia-Europe Meeting, established in 1996, brings together more than 40 countries from Europe and Asia.

The formal summit programme begins today, with heads of government welcomed at the Great Hall of the People, Tiananmen Square by Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and briefly introduced to President Hu.