Hanoi (VNA) – Foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) began the 41st ASEAN Ministerial Meeting (AMM) in Singapore on July 21, news reports said.
High on the agenda will be issues relating to Thailand-Cambodia border dispute, assessment of Myanmar Cyclone Nargis disaster, the ASEAN Charter and regional security.
The 10-member grouping’s foreign ministers will release the Post- Nargis Joint Assessment Report later July 21, Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong was quoted as saying at the opening ceremoney.
Regarding the ASEAN Charter, the Singaporean PM said that the grouping has decided to press on with the Charter's implementation without waiting for all ten members to ratify.
PM Lee also announced the establishment of an ASEAN Studies Centre within a think tank - the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies (ISEAS) - in Singapore.
During the three-day meeting, the ASEAN foreign ministers will meet separately with foreign ministers and representatives from ASEAN dialogue partners.
Founded in 1967, the ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.–Enditem
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