VIENTIANE (Laos), Nov 4: Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf arrived here on Sunday to attend the ninth summit of the Asia-Europe Meeting (Asem-9) being held on Nov 5-6.

At the Wattay International Airport, he was received by Laos Minister for Natural Resources and Environment Nulinh Sienbundhit and Pakistan’s Ambassador in Hanoi Shahid M. Kiani.

The prime minister is accompanied by Mrs Nusrat Pervez Ashraf, Foreign Secretary Jalil Abbas Jilani and senior officials.

Besides addressing the summit, Mr Ashraf would call on Laos Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong. On Monday, he is expected to meet European Council chief Van Rompuy and French President Francois Hollande.

Prime Minister Ashraf will meet several other leaders, including Russian Premier Dmitry Medvedev, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib bin Ton Raza, Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Finnish Prime Minister Jyrki Katainen and Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard.

Leaders from 49 countries have arrived to attend the summit.—APP