Asian, European leaders meet in Laos

Leaders from Asia and Europe arrived in the capital of Laos Monday for a two-day summit expected to focus on commitments to free trade. French President Francois Hollande arrived Monday for a 12-hour stay in the land-locked former French colony. He will be the most senior European leader to attend the two-day Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) Summit, which includes 52 members. Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao arrived Sunday night, according to a report of DPA. The gathering has drawn nine heads of state and 22 prime ministers, along with deputy ministers and the presidents of the European Commission, European Council and Secretary-General of the Association of South-East Asian Nations. ASEM was launched in 1996 in Bangkok to improve ties between the advanced economies of Europe and the fast-growing economies of Asia.