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12th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) summit in Brussels
Alain Berset takes part in the 12th ASEM summit, at the invitation of Donald Tusk and Jean-Claude Juncker. Theme: “Europe and Asia: global partners for global challenges”. The forum brings together 53 countries; Switzerland joined it in 2012.
His statement in the plenary describes a “paradox of our time”: challenges are becoming international, while multilateralism is in retreat. “All states win when others are seen as potential partners and not as competitors.” He cites the Asia-Europe Foundation, which Switzerland co-finances.
On the sidelines, he meets Pedro Sánchez, President of the Government of Spain, the first member of the Swiss government to see him since he took office in June. He also holds talks with Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, with Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and with representatives of Bangladesh and Myanmar.
Thursday 18 October 2018 — Brussels
- Press statement on arrival
- Meeting with Myanmar’s Minister for International Cooperation, U Kyaw Tin
- Meeting with Pedro Sánchez, President of the Government of Spain
- Meeting with Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister, Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali
- Welcome of the heads of delegation by Donald Tusk and Jean-Claude Juncker
- Opening ceremony of the summit
- Gala dinner at the Royal Museums of Art and History, in the presence of King Philippe
Friday 19 October 2018 — Brussels
- Plenary session I, “Building the Future Together”: speech by Alain Berset
- Meeting with Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev
- Plenary session II, on the multilateral system
- Family photo, closed working session on international issues
- Closing ceremony
- Meeting with Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha
- Press conference
Speeches on this site
- Discours au 12e sommet ASEM : « L’ASEM, une réponse à un paradoxe de notre temps » (French-language page)
Sources