A Laos special police officer guards the gates of the National Convention Centre, standing under an umbrella advertising the nations famous drink Beerlao, outside the venue for the Asia Europe Meeting (ASEM) 9, in Vientiane, Lao PDR, 01 November 2012. The Laos capital is hosting the ASEM 9 summit with leaders to meet on 05 and 06 November. ASEM is a 52-member group that includes 30 European countries, the European Commission and European Council on one side and 17 Asian countries, the ASEAN Secretariat, Australia and New Zealand on the other. This summit will see Norway, Switzerland, and Bangladesh joining the group. EPA/BARBARA WALTON
