Swiss President Didier Burkhalter to take part in the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM)

More than fifty heads of state and government as well as senior officials will be in Milan to discuss this year's theme of responsible partnership for growth and security. Mr Burkhalter will speak on various issues, particularly on the outlook for the exchange of expertise and people between Europe and Asia in order to enhance innovation and promote youth employment especially. During the discussion on regional and international current events, the Swiss president will talk about the role of the OSCE in terms of building bridges in Europe and the usefulness of establishing a more cooperative security model in Asia along OSCE lines.

Mr Burkhalter is also expected to meet with several of his European and Asian counterparts at this high-level summit.

ASEM was founded in Bangkok in 1996 and now has around 50 members. The Europe group is made up of 27 member states of the European Union, Switzerland, Norway and the European Commission. The Asia group comprises 20 countries, notably the ten members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), China, Japan, Russia, India, Australia and New Zealand, as well as the ASEAN secretariat. Today, ASEM member countries account for 62.5% of the world's population and 57% of global GDP.

Switzerland officially joined ASEM on the occasion of the ASEM Summit of Heads of State and Government in Laos in November 2012.

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