The forum will feature the leaders of 51 European and Asian countries, including new participants Norway, Switzerland and Bangladesh, discussing topics such as fighting terrorism, piracy and the spread of weapons of mass destruction, as well as energy and food safety, the management of water sources and climate change.

Entitled "Friends for Peace, Partners for Prosperity", the forum will also touch on regional issues, such as the tensions on the Korean peninsula, the Iranian nuclear issue and the Syrian crisis, while participants are to sign a Vientiane declaration on strengthening European-Asian partnership for peace and development.

Janša is to discuss global challenges as well as economic and financial issues, including the initiative for an upgrade of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide he officially presented at the September session of the UN General Assembly in New York, Janša's office said.

He will also present Slovenia's views and its efforts on tackling the crisis, as well as the country's possibilities for strengthening cooperation in regards to its strategic position for entering the markets of Central and Southeastern Europe.

Prior to heading to Laos, Janša held a phone conversation with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Janša's office said the pair discussed regional and international issues, as well as Slovenia's reform efforts.

ASEM, which creates roughly a half of the world's GDP, features the 27 countries of the EU, ten members of the ASEAN and Australia, China, India, Japan, South Korean, Mongolia, New Zealand, Pakistan and Russia.