President Halonen to give the opening address at the ASEM summit

Office of the President of the Republic of Finland Press release 4 September 2006

President of the Republic of Finland Tarja Halonen will be giving the opening address at the start of the ASEM6 Summit (the Asia-Europe Meeting) at the Helsinki Fair Centre on Sunday September 10. The two-day Summit will be attended by 38 countries and will focus on ways of responding to the challenges of globalisation. Representing Finland will be a delegation appointed by the Finnish President and headed by the Finnish Prime Minister, Mr Matti Vanhanen.

On Sunday evening President Halonen will be hosting a working dinner at the President’s Palace for leaders of the delegations, during which there will be discussion of topical regional issues.

President Halonen and her husband, Dr Pentti Arajärvi will also be giving a reception at the President’s official residence, Mäntyniemi, on Saturday September 9 for delegation leaders and their spouses already in Helsinki.

President Halonen will further be holding a number of bilateral talks with leaders attending the Summit. On Saturday September 9 she will, among others, be talking with Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Kouzumi and Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo at Mäntyniemi. A meeting with the Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao is scheduled for Tuesday September 12 at the President’s Palace.

Two state visits to Finland will be made in conjunction with the ASEM Summit. South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun will be in Finland on a state visit on September 7-8 and 12, and Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono will be arriving for a state visit on Tuesday September 12.

President Halonen will also be attending several of the other events held in conjunction with the ASEM Summit. On Friday September 8 she will be speaking at the meeting of representatives of Asian and European labour market organisations and the Finland-Korea economic forum, and on Sunday September 10 at the Asia-Europe Business Forum.