HANOI, May 24 (Xinhua) -- The Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) Senior Officials' Meeting ended in Hanoi on Sunday in preparation for the9th ASEM Foreign Ministers' Meeting (FMM 9), scheduled to be held on May 25.

    Senior officials from 45 ASEM members discussed and agreed on the topics and program for the FMM 9 as well as the drafts of documents to be adopted at this meeting.

    The meeting was of special importance as it finalized all preparations and arrangements for the FMM 9, said a press release from the Vietnamese Foreign Ministry issued immediately after the meeting.

    Prior to the ASEM Senior Officials' meeting, there were meetings of the Asian ASEM Senior Officials, European ASEM Senior Officials and ASEM Coordinators' Senior Officials.

    The senior officials also expressed their strong confidence that the FMM 9 would be a great success.

    The ASEM Senior Officials' Meeting is normally held twice a year, once on the eve of Ministerial or Summit meeting and once separately. It is reported to the ASEM foreign ministers' meeting.

    The ASEM Foreign Ministers' Meeting, slated from May 25 to 26, will draw foreign ministers and delegations from 45 ASEM members and discuss measures on enhancing cooperation within ASEM to combat global challenges.