Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf arrived in Laos on Sunday to attend the Asia Europe Meeting (ASEM-9) summit, held on November 5-6.
The prime minister was received by Laos Minister for Natural Resources and Environment Nulinh Sienbundhit, Pakistan’s Ambassador to Hanoi Shahid M Kiani and other senior officials at Wattay International Airport. He was given a guard of honour, while girls attired in traditional dresses presented bouquets to him and members of his delegation. Ashraf, who will be participating in the summit at the invitation of the Government of Laos, was accompanied by his wife Begum Nusrat Pervez Ashraf, Foreign Secretary Jalil Abbas Jilani and other senior officials.
The prime minister would have a hectic schedule. Besides delivering a statement at the summit, he would hold meetings with many heads of the state and governments on the sidelines. He would hold a bilateral meeting with Laos Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong. He would also meet other world leaders, including Finnish Prime Minister Jyrki Katainen, Malaysian Prime Minister Dato Sri Najib Bin Tun Razak, Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Anatolyevich Medvedev and Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard. Ashraf is also expected to hold meetings with the president of the European Council Van Rompuy and French President Francois Hollande on November 5. Leaders from 49 countries arrived at Laos to attend the mega event.
