World IN BRIEF : THAILAND : 15 EU and 10 Asian Nations End Summit

European and Asian leaders, ending their first economic summit, declared they will forge a “strong partnership” in trade and investment but left contentious human rights issues unresolved. European leaders, whose relations with Asia have lagged as they have concentrated on building the European Union, are eager to match the U.S. presence in some of the world’s fastest-growing economies. In a statement wrapping up the two-day meeting, participants said that closer ties must be matched by the promotion of human rights without any meddling in one another’s affairs.