On Oct. 20, 2000, Premier Zhu Rongji of the State Council led a delegation to attend the 3rd ASEM meeting being held in Seoul, Capital City of ROK. Heads of state or government from 10 Asian countries and 15 European states, and President of the European Union attend the meeting. French President Chirac attended the meeting in the capacity of the President of the EU Council. Accompanying the leaders are the Foreign Ministers, other ministers of the participant countries and a member of the Council of Europe. President Kim Dae-jung of ROK, the host country presided over the meeting.


Premier Zhu will have extensive contacts and exchanges with the Asian and European leaders in conjunction with the meeting, during which they will have an in-depth exchange of views on Asia-Europe exchanges and cooperation in the fields of politics, economy and trade, culture and science and technology. They will also discuss how to advance Asia-Europe cooperation in the new century, broaden common ground, step up contacts and cooperation and establish new type of Asia-Europe partnership. He will also deliver keynote address at the meeting.


It is expected that three documents, the Chairman's Statement, the Asia-Europe Cooperation Framework 2000 and the Seoul Declaration on Peace on the Korean Peninsula will be adopted at the meeting after deliberations. The two-day meeting will be concluded on the morning of Oct. 21, 2000.