Beijing - Asian and European leaders plan to urge Myanmar's military rulers to be more tolerant toward opposition political parties and release political prisoners, according to a draft summit statement seen Friday.

The leaders attending the biennial Asia-Europe Meeting would urge Myanmar to "engage all stakeholders in an inclusive political process in order to achieve national reconciliation and economic and social development."

Beijing  - A plan will be finalized "as soon as possible" for a foreign exchange reserve of 80 billion dollars for 10 South-East Asian and three East Asian nations, Brunei Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah said on Friday.

Speaking on behalf of the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) at the opening of a summit of Asian and European leaders, Bolkiah said there was "fear of economic meltdown" that was "compelling us to address this issue immediately."

Beijing, Oct 24 : Pakistan Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir has said that his country’s President Asif Ali Zardari’s statement describing the Kashmiri fighters as “terrorists” was not exactly what he meant, as the definition of terrorism was not satisfactorily resolved yet.

Beijing - German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Friday urged greater transparency and firmer controls over financial markets as part a solution to the global financial turmoil.

Merkel made a four-point proposal to Asian and European leaders discussing the financial crisis in Beijing, according to an advance copy of her speech.

She listed greater transparency in financial markets as the highest priority for supporting a global recovery.

Second on the list of proposals to 45 leaders at the biannual Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) was the need for a new structure of incentives.

Beijing, Oct 23 : Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh on Thursday arrived in Beijing to attend the seventh Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM-7) scheduled from Friday after his three-day visit to Japan.

On his arrival to Beijing, Dr. Singh said, “This is the first time that I am attending the Asian-European summit as a Prime Minister.”

“I sincerely hope that this meeting of minds between Europe and Asia will produce a solution to many global problems including the current global financial crisis,” Dr. Singh added.

Beijing, Oct 23 : Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh is scheduled to meet his Pakistani counterpart Yousuf Raza Gilani here on Friday on the sidelines of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) summit.

The two leaders will meet to review the progress being made to promote bilateral understanding and co-operation to resolve disputes including Kashmir, the Daily Times quoted a senior Pakistani official as telling a foreign news agency.

The two leaders will likely meet at the Great Hall of the People in the afternoon, after the summit’s opening session.