Europe-Asia summit opens

(BRUSSELS) - A two-day Asia-Europe summit of 46 countries opened in the EU capital Monday with the European Union pledging to be both a stronger international player and stronger partner for the Asia region.

The Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM), which meets every two years, is a forum for dialogue that began in 1996 but now represents 60 percent of the world population.

Opening the meeting, to be followed Wednesday with China-EU and South Korea-EU summits, EU president Herman Van Rompuy said "the European Union is committed to be a stronger actor on the world stage and a stronger partner for Asia."

"The 27 heads of state and government," he went on "decided that the EU needs to look East. Not only in words, but also in facts."

The meeting brings together the 27 EU nations, the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), as well as China, Japan, South Korea, India, Pakistan and Mongolia.

Australia, New Zealand and Russia this year join the forum.