Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Vice President Jusuf Kalla is visiting Brussels, Belgium, to attend the 12th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) and hold bilateral meetings with several state leaders.

The vice president and entourage left for Brussels on Wednesday night (Oct 17) aboard a Garuda Indonesia flight from the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport to Schipol International Airport in Amsterdam, according to a press release received by Antara here, Thursday.

From Amsterdam, the vice president headed to Belgium by boarding the Thalys train and is scheduled to arrive in Brussels on Thursday at 1:08 p.m. local time.

The 12th ASEM Summit, being held on Oct 19-20, is themed "Europe and Asia: Global Partners for Global Challenges."

At the event, the leaders of European and Asian countries will strengthen dialogue and cooperation between the two continents in the fields of trade, investment, connectivity, sustainable development, climate, and security, among others.

The leaders will also discuss counterterrorism and efforts to overcome cybercrimes and irregular migration.

Some 51 heads of state from Asia and European countries will participate in the 12th ASEM Summit. The event will be chaired by European Council President Donald Tusk and attended by European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker.

The ASEM Summit is a collaborative forum of Asian and European countries to discuss various issues and increase cooperation in the fields of politics, economics, defense, education, and the environment.

ASEM was established in 1996 as a forum for dialogue and cooperation between Asian and European countries to strengthen relations between the two continents.

Reporting by Fransiska Ninditya
Editing by Libertina Widya Ambari

Reporter: Antara
Editor: Andi Abdussalam
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