Asia–Europe Summit in Italy

I will represent the Prime Minister this week at the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) Summit in Milan.

ASEM links Asia and Europe through discussion on political, economic and cultural relations. The Meeting aims to generate initiatives, open up trade and investment opportunities and coordinate multilateral policies.

The Summit involves 19 Asian countries and the ASEAN Secretariat, along with the 28 European Union member states, Norway, Switzerland and the European Commission.

Eleven leaders attending the ASEM Summit are scheduled to visit Brisbane for the G20 Summit including British Prime Minister David Cameron, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Russian President Vladimir Putin, French President Francois Holland and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, Malaysian Prime Minister Mohammed Najib Abdul Razak and Singaporean Prime Minister Hsien Loong Lee will also be in attendance.

In my address to the Summit, I will outline Australia's G20 priorities, including our efforts to secure sustainable global economic growth.

The Summit will also provide a forum for discussions on global security challenges including the response to ISIL, the threat posed by foreign terrorist fighters and the situation in Ukraine.

Italy is Australia's third-largest source of European Union imports and has become an increasing source of foreign direct investment for Australia.A number of Australian companies have substantial interests in Italy, including Westfield, Macquarie Group and Cochlear.I will meet with Italian and Australian business leaders to promote Australia's economic credentials and the Government's "economic diplomacy" agenda.

I will also meet with Italian and Australian business women to discuss women's economic empowerment initiatives in our respective countries.