Prime Minister Sipilä to ASEM Summit in Mongolia

Prime Minister Juha Sipilä will participate in the ASEM Summit in Ulanbaatar, Mongolia, on 15 and 16 July. The Summit will mark the 20th anniversary of the Asia-Europe Meeting and focus on ways to strengthen partnerships and connections between Asia and Europe.

For Finland, ASEM is the most important forum for Asia-Europe dialogue and cooperation. Due to its informal nature, ASEM provides opportunities for an open dialogue on key political, economic and cultural issues. From Finland's point of view, it is important that through ASEM it is possible to enhance common commitments to the principles of international law and peaceful resolution of conflicts. It is important to bring Asian and European countries closer to each other with regard to other international issues, too. Such issues include climate change, sustainable development and action against terrorism.

Finland emphasises the openness of ASEM in relation to various stakeholders, including civil society, the youth, business life and trade unions.

In addition to the summit programme, Prime Minister Sipilä will have bilateral talks with Asian leaders.

ASEM was established in 1996 to promote interaction and mutual understanding between Asian and European countries. The ASEM Summit is organised every two years, alternately in Asia and Europe. Some 50 countries participate in the meeting together with leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The 10th Anniversary ASEM Summit took place in Helsinki, during the Finnish EU Presidency in 2006.

• More information on EU Council website
• More information on the Summit website

Inquiries: Anna-Kaisa Heikkinen, Special Adviser (International Affairs), tel. +358 40 748 3867 and Anne Sjöholm, Head of Communications for EU Affairs, tel. +358 40 537 0733, Prime Minister’s Office

Inquiries during the meeting: Anne Sjöholm, Head of Communications for EU Affairs, tel. +358 50 468 5302, Prime Minister’s Office