BEIJING, Sept. 11 -- Taking place every two years, alternating between Asia and Europe, the summits are the most important feature of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) process, providing the main political impetus.

    ASEM 1: Held in Bangkok on March 1-2, 1996, it brought together the 15 EU member states and the European Commission, with 10 Asian countries.

    ASEM 2: Held in London on April 3-4, 1998

    ASEM 3: Held in Seoul on October 20-21, 2000

    ASEM 4: Held in Copenhagen on September 22-24, 2002

    ASEM 5: Held in Hanoi on October 7-9, 2004 with the participation of 39 partners, it was a historic landmark in Europe-Asia relations.

    The ASEM 5 Summit marked the enlargement of ASEM to include ten new EU member states as well as three new countries of Association of Southeast Asian Nations Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar.

    ASEM 6: Held in Helsinki on September 10-11, 2006, marking the 10th anniversary of the ASEM process (Pakistan, India, Mongolia, Bulgaria and Romania invited to join)