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October 16, 2009 17:59 PM

Policymakers From Europe And Asia To Discuss Regional Strategies

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 16 (Bernama) -- Key policymakers from Europe and Asia will converge here from this Sunday to discuss Asian strategies and the region's potential for growth under the challenging global economic environment.

The joint Asia-Europe Meeting or ASEM will be held from Oct 18 to Oct 20, said a joint press release from Bank Negara Malaysia, the European Commission and the Asian Development Bank.

"The conference will provide participants with the opportunities to discuss key issues affecting the Asian region and the European Union as they emerge from the worst global financial and economic crisis since the Great Depression," they said.

"The conference will assess Asia's growth strategies amidst the changing global economic and financial landscape. This will include leveraging on global and regional opportunities and addressing current weaknesses and future risks," they added.

Among others, the role and regional policies will also be discussed, particularly in the context of promoting financial innovation and fostering globalisation and the challenges that these posed for countries in Asia, the organisers said.

"This conference will provide inputs into the agenda for the next ASEM finance ministers meeting in Spain on April 16 and 17, 2010," they said.

Participants at the conference comprise officials from the finance and economic ministries and central banks from 43 ASEM countries, as well as academicians, business leaders and media representatives from both domestic and international communities.

The conference will be officiated by the Crown Prince of Perak state, Raja Dr Nazrin Shah, on Oct 19 while Prime Minister Najib Razak will deliver a special address on Oct 20.

Asian Development Bank's chief economist and head of office of regional economic integration, Dr Jong-Wha Lee, and Bank Negara's (Malaysia's central bank) governor Dr Zeti Akhtar Aziz are among the speakers.

Established in 1996, ASEM is a platform for an inter-regional forum for dialogue and cooperation, bringing together the 27 EU member states, European Commission, 16 Asian countries and Asean secretariat.

-- BERNAMA

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