Bangladesh, Norway and Switzerland officially joined the ASEM political dialogue process during the enlargement ceremony held at the 9th Asia-Europe Meeting Summit (ASEM9) in Vientiane (5-6 November 2012). This brings the total number of ASEM members to 51 partners. ASEF Executive Director, Ambassador ZHANG Yan, was present at the Summit during this ceremony.
Representing the three countries’ entry into ASEM at the Summit were Bangladesh Prime Minister H.E. Mrs Sheikh Hasina; Norway Prime Minister H.E. Mr Jens Stoltenberg; and Swiss President H.E. Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf.
Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF) is delighted to welcome the new members, which also become ASEF members, on board.