FINLAND: EU and Asian leaders are expected to sign a joint declaration on climate change today and discuss possible bilateral trade deals between the regions.
They will also recommend that the six-party talks over North Korea's nuclear weapons programme should be restarted, and raise the issue of human rights in Burma.
On the opening day of the Asia-Europe summit yesterday, the EU told the Burmese delegate that the military junta should stop breaching human rights, introduce democracy and release opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi from house arrest.
Finnish prime minister Matti Vanhanen raised the issue of human rights at a dinner last night, at which Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said he would speak on abuses in Burma.
"We are deeply concerned about suppression, continuing detention of Aung San Suu Kyi and the ill-treatment of ethnic minorities in Burma," said Mr Ahern, who defended the decision to grant Burmese foreign minister U Nyan Win an entry visa to Finland. "You are better talking to people than talking about them," he said.
The decision to invite Mr Nyan Win was controversial and a small group of protesters clashed with police at the summit, which is intended to boost dialogue and co-operation between Asian and EU states.
Among the few concrete conclusions expected from the summit is a declaration on climate change that is intended to boost a new global deal on reducing greenhouse gas emissions when the Kyoto protocol ends in 2012. European Commission president José Manuel Barroso said action was needed to cut emissions.
"If Europe alone makes all the effort in the fight against climate change, it will be a problem," said Mr Barroso, acknowledging that developing countries in Asia want developed economies such as Europe and the US to lead the way on emission cuts.
Trade will be high on the agenda in discussions today, with European and Asian countries likely to hold exploratory talks on the bilateral trade deals. With the Doha round of world trade talks stalled, the EU is exploring the option of negotiating regional trade deals with the 10 Asean nations at the summit.
EU leaders will also discuss trade with Chinese prime minister Wen Jiabao against a back-drop of anti-dumping duties levied by the EU on shoe imports from China. Mr Barroso acknowledged that globalisation had lifted millions out of poverty in China but stressed that "negative effects" had to be managed.
"That is why it is important to involve our partners in Asia, to explain that we are in favour of liberalisation of course. But we want respect for certain levels of decency in work, a minimum of social rights and guarantees," he said.
At a meeting before the summit on Saturday the EU and China pledged to begin talks on a new framework agreement for closer ties on political, economic and cultural matters. Mr Wen also urged the EU to lift the arms embargo imposed on China.