Foreign ministers from the European Union and Arab League have begun arriving in Malta for a two-day meeting aimed at fostering "political engagement" between the two regions.
Michael Frendo, Malta's foreign minister, said the meeting would cover inter-cultural dialogue, global warming, energy security, immigration and economic development.
The ministers are also expected to discuss the situation in the Palestinian territories and the Middle East peace process.
"Bringing together these two worlds in Malta is in itself a political message in favour of the politics of moderation and against extremism and division," Frendo said.
Javier Solana, the EU foreign policy chief, was to open the talks on Monday with a working dinner, to be followed by another meeting on Tuesday morning.
Foreign ministers
Nine EU countries and 12 member states of the Arab League are being represented at foreign minister level at the talks, including Spain, Italy, Ireland, Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia.
Slovenia, the current EU president, is co-chairing the talks along with Saudi Arabia and host Malta.
Frendo launched the initiative for the talks in September 2006 with a letter to the then-Finnish EU presidency.
Slovenia has described the meeting as "a unique and highly opportune event, as dialogue with Arab partners is currently of vital importance in view of the current regional and global challenges in world politics."