REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA - The Asia Europe Meeting (ASEM) next Oct 16-17 in Milan, Italy, will discuss cooperation between Asian and European countries in economy and international security, according to European Union Ambassador to Indonesia Olof Skoog onThursday.

"The upcoming meeting will discuss current economic growth, challenges for members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in facing the free market era in 2015 and security issues such as dispute between Ukraine and Russia from the international law point of view," Skoog said.

Apart from economic and security issues, ASEM will also discuss the joint responsibility of Asian and European countries in preserving the environment particularly by boosting the use of environmentally friendly technologies. ASEM will see the participation of leaders from 20 Asian countries and 31 European countries including Russia.

"Russian President Vladimir Putin is scheduled to attend ASEM so there will be a chance that we will discuss the territorial dispute between Ukraine and Russia," Skoog added.