VIENTIANE, Sept. 12 (Xinhua) -- Twenty-five countries and five international organizations have confirmed their attendance at the upcoming 7th Asia-Europe Parliamentary Partnership (ASEP7) meeting which will be held here on Oct. 3-4, according to documents released by the Lao government.
The main theme of the ASEP7 meeting, which is expected to bring together parliamentarians from a diverse range of countries across Asia and Europe, is sustainable development. The meeting is part of a range of Asia-Europe forums and meetings to be held over the next few months in Laos, one of South-East Asia's poorest countries.
According to the Lao government, 13 Asian countries, eight European countries, four observer countries and five international organizations have confirmed they would send a delegation to the meeting.
The Asian nations are Brunei, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippines, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Hungary, the Netherlands, Romania, Spain and the European Union will be sending delegations for Europe.
The four confirmed observer nations are Australia, New Zealand, Russia and Myanmar. The International Monetary Fund (IMF), UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR), UN Development Program (UNDP) and the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) will attend.
Germany has confirmed its delegation would moderate economic- related meetings, at which China, the Republic of Korea, Finland, and the IMF will be keynote speakers. Vietnam is expected to moderate on social and environmental topics, while Indonesia, France, Belgium and the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) will be lead speakers.
ASEP, initiated in 1996 and held meetings every two years, is aimed at enhancing mutual understanding between Asia and Europe through increased dialogue among parliaments.
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