Foreign Trade Minister Sasi to ASEM economy ministers meeting in Hanoi

The economy and trade ministers of Asia and the European Union will gather to the 3rd ASEM-meeting of economy ministers in Hanoi, Vietnam on September 10-11. Finland will be represented by Foreign Trade Minister Kimmo Sasi.

The ministers will discuss the economical situation on both continents, removing hurdles for trade and investments and the preparations for the fourth ministerial meeting of the WTO to be held in Doha,Qatar in November.

Minister Sasi will also have bilateral meetings with the trade ministers of Vietnam, Thailand and the Philippines and the deputy minister of China, with whom he will discuss WTO issues.

The ASEM-cooperation is a dialogue on political, trade and economy and cultural topics between 10 Asian countries (Brunei, the Philippines, Indonesia, Japan, China, the Republic of Korea, Malesia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam) and the 15 EU-countries and the EU Commission. The ASEM Summits are held every second year and additionally the foreign ministers, finance ministers, economy ministers and ministers for environment hold their own meetings. Finland has participated in the cooperation from its beginning in 1996.

More information: press attaché Paula Parviainen, tel 1341 5356 or Head of Unit Tarja Laitiainen, tel 1341 6308







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