Her Majesty The Queen and His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh this evening hosted a dinner at Buckingham Palace for delegates attending the Second Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM II). Welcoming the delegates, who included the Heads of 26 ASEM II delegations, and other guests, The Queen said:
 
"Prince Philip and I are delighted to welcome you all to this country for the second Asia-Europe Meeting, and to Buckingham Palace for a much needed pause in your deliberations! Britain is honoured that the first ASEM Summit in Europe should be taking place here.
 
I know that you have all had an extremely busy day of talks so let me just say that I look forward with anticipation to hearing the outcome of your discussions tomorrow.
 
It would be idle to pretend that you will not be talking business here, but there may perhaps be merit in being able to discuss it in informal surroundings. I hope that you will all be able to relax a little, and that you will enjoy the short concert after dinner. There you will have a chance to watch and listen to a performance by young people which will bring to life the interaction between Asia and Europe - the very theme of your own meeting.
 
Now, I should like to ask you to raise your glasses with me as we join in wishing every success to the Summit."
 
A concert by students from the Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts (LIPA) and the violinist Vanessa-Mae was held after dinner in the historic Picture Gallery at Buckingham Palace.
 
Joan Armatrading, a patron of LIPA, introduced their performance which included a vibrant mix of rock, pop and gospel music. Songs included "Doors", "Damon", "is on the Sparrow", "Cell Block Tango" and "Bless the Lord my Soul". A performance then followed by Vanessa-Mae, which brought together Eastern and Western themes in "A Tribute to the East (Butterfly Lovers, Happy Reflections of Mulan)" and "A Tribute to the West (Toccata & Fugue, Retro, Leyenda)", and "The New Four Seasons", an arrangement of Vivaldi by Vanessa-Mae.
 
Notes for Editors
 
Other members of the Royal family who attended the dinner included The Duke of York, The Princess Royal, Captain Timothy Laurence, RN, and The Duke of Kent.
 
The ASEM 2 delegations attending were from: Austria, Belgium, Brunei, China, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Luxembourg, Malaysia, The Netherlands, The Philippines, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, United Kingdom, Vietnam and The EU Commission. The first ASEM meeting was held in Bangkok, Thailand, in March 1996.
 
The Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts is backed by Sir Paul McCartney and was opened by The Queen in 1995. It is the United Kingdom's first university level institution with a curriculum designed specifically for the popular arts and entertainment industry.
 
Vanessa-Mae was born in Singapore and moved to London at the age of four. She is critically acclaimed and internationally recognised as both classical maestro and pop star.
 
The Picture Gallery is one of the main State Rooms in Buckingham Palace. The 155-foot long gallery contains numerous works of art including an important collection of seventeenth-century Dutch paintings. It is open to the public during the Summer Opening of Buckingham Palace.
 
The dinner menu included (starter) Loup de Mer au Citron Vert et Thyme; (entree) Mignons de Veau aux Champignons Sauvages, Epinards en Branches, Celeris Mornay, Pommes Galette, Salade; (dessert) Bombe Glacee Marquise; (wines) Alsace Tokay-Pinot Gris 1993, Chateau Talbot 1986, Krug 1985, Royal Vintage Port 1960.
 
 
Copyright © 1998 M2 Communications, Ltd., All Rights Reserved.
 
BUCKINGHAM PALACE: Asem II dinner and concert at Buckingham Palace., M2 PressWIRE, 04-06-1998.