The 7th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM),due to open Friday in Beijing, will mark another important international event to be hosted by the Chinese capital after the 2008 Olympics and Paralympics.   .Asia, Europe join hands to face challenges .China, Poland agree to step up bilateral ties .Asian, Euro leaders trade ideas on financial woes on eve of Beijing summit .Asian, European journalists cover ASEM summit .Chinese Premier meets Austrian counterpart .Chinese President calls for closer Sino-EU relations .Chinese, Vietnamese PMs Hold Talks in Beijing .ASEM Summit Helps Strengthen Direct Cooperation between Europe, Asia .China Stresses Int'l Efforts to Tackle Financial Woes Travel in Beijing Beijing Olympic Memories Beijing Highlights Beijing Q&A City Information Sister Cities of Beijing     24-25 October 2008 ASEM 7 Summit 21-24 October 2008 Eleventh Asia-Europe Business Forum (AEBF 11) 22-23 October 2008 4th Editors’Roundtable 17-18 October 2008 3rd Connecting Civil Societies 9-13 October 2008 Dialogue on Art and Climate Change 24-28 Septmber 2008 Model ASEM   About ASEM 7 The Seventh Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM 7) will be held in Beijing 24-25 October 2008. The summit will be the first gathering of leaders of 45 ASEM partners since its second round of enlargement in 2006.   About ASEM The Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) is an inter-governmental forum between Asia and Europe. In March 1996, the First ASEM Summit was held in Bangkok, Thailand, marking the official birth of ASEM.     .United Kingdom .Sweden .Spain .Slovenia .Romania .Portugal .Poland .Netherlands .Malta .Italy .Ireland .Hungary .Greece .Germany .European Union .Estonia .Denmark .Czech Republic .Cyprus .Bulgaria .Belgium .ASEAN Secretariat .Brunei Darussalam .Cambodia .China .India .Japan .Korea .Finland .Indonesia