Brussels, 17/06/2009 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 18 June, Brussels will host the first ASEM (Asia and Europe) Forum ministerial meeting on energy security. EU External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner and EU Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs will be meeting a delegation of European and Asian foreign and energy ministers to discuss a wide range of questions related to global energy policy, ranging from sustainable energy to balanced global markets. Based on the outcome of the 7th ASEM summit in Beijing in October 2008 and the outcome of the Energy Security Forum in Hanoi in April 2008, the ASEM ministers will examine how cooperation can be stepped up between Asia and Europe on energy security issues. The ministers will also prepare for the 8th ASEM summit in Brussels in October 2010. ASEM comprises 45 countries, namely the 27 EU member states, the ten countries in the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), China, South Korea, India, Japan, Mongolia and Pakistan. It accounts for half of the world's GDP, 60% of its population and 60% of world trade. Acting coordinators of ASEM alongside the European Commission, Cambodia will be represented by its energy minister Suy Sem, India by its oil minister Jitin Prasada, and the Czech Republic, which holds the Presidency of the Council of the EU, by its deputy foreign minister Jan Kohout. (E.H./transl.fl)