ASEM 8 Task Force

The ASEM 8 Task Force combines resources of the administrative and political levels in order to steer the preparations for the ASEM 8 Summit.

It has its home in the Belgian Federal Public Service of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation. The administrative participation comprises the Directorate for the Asia and Pacific Region, the Economic Diplomacy desk, the Directorate for European External Relations, the EU Presidency Logistics Team and the Department for Press and Communications. The Permanent Representation of Belgium to the European Union also has a representative.

The political membership is composed of the Cabinet of Prime Minister Yves LETERME, the Cabinet of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and for Institutional Reform Steven VANACKERE and the Cabinet of State Secretary for European Affairs Olivier CHASTEL.

The ASEM Desk within the Federal Public Service of Foreign Affairs ensures the Secretariat of the Task Force and is at the same time its implementing arm. The Head of the ASEM Desk is also the ASEM Senior Official for Belgium and at the same time the Chair of the ASEM 8 Task Force.

The members of the ASEM Desk are listed below:

NOTE: the practical issues regarding the participation of delegations in the ASEM 8 Summit itself are handled specifically by the EU Presidency Logistics Team. The designated channel for this kind of issues are the Embassies and the Diplomatic Representations of the ASEM Members in Brussels who have a direct line of communication with the EU Presidency Logistics Team.