PM to visit Mongolia next month

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will visit Mongolia on July 14-17 to attend the 11th summit of Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM).

Officials said the summit in the Mongolian capital Ulaanbaatar will provide an opportunity to the leaders of Asia and Europe to discuss regional and international issues.

The PM is scheduled to attend the plenary sessions of the summit and deliver a speech on July 15-16. She is expected to hold bilateral meetings with several heads of state and government on the sidelines of the Summit.

Foreign ministry officials have already received positive response from different countries on the bilateral meetings. They said the premier was planning to visit several other countries, including Germany, Bahrain and Venezuela, after Mongolia.

 Bangladesh had joined the 52-nation ASEM in 2012 to boost cooperation between Asia and Europe on political, economic and social issues.

ASEM provides a unique platform to bring Europe and Asia closer on a number of issues of global importance, be it revival of economic growth worldwide, climate change, or the post-2015 development agenda.

More than 5,000 delegates, including presidents of 15 countries, prime ministers and foreign ministers of 21 countries, and heads of international organisations as well as representatives of the media, are expected to join the 11th ASEM Summit.