Bishop, Putin attend summit in Italy

MS Bishop and the Russian president will be among the senior politicians and leaders attending the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) in Milan which starts on Thursday (Milan time).

Prime Minister Tony Abbott has said he wants to “shirtfront” Mr Putin over Russia’s lack of co-operation with an international investigation into the downing of the Malaysia Airlines flight, killing 298 passengers including 38 Australian citizens and residents.Ms Bishop will deliver a speech to the summit in which she will outline Australia’s G20 priorities and efforts to boost global economic growth.But she said she would also be using it as an opportunity to talk about Ukraine as well as the threat posed by Islamic State in Iraq and Syria.It is unclear when and where Ms Bishop may be able to meet with Mr Putin during the summit.Mr Putin is set to hold a breakfast meeting with Ukraine President Petro Poroshenko to review September’s ceasefire agreement.The summit involves 19 Asian countries and the ASEAN secretariat, along with the 28 European Union member states, Norway, Switzerland and the European Commission.In the margins of the summit there will be an Asia-Europe Business Forum which will be attended by an Australian business delegation.Australia has been a member of ASEM since October 2010.