SPECIAL INFORMAL ASEAN FOREIGN MINISTERS' MEETING

By Jamaluddin Muhammad

BANGKOK, April 9 (Bernama) – A Special Informal Asean Foreign Ministers'
Meeting on East Asia Summit (EAS) will be held here next Monday.

It would discuss strategic issues for Asean, such as the future of EAS
after expansion to include Russia and the United States, according to a
statement by the Foreign Ministry of Thailand.

The expansion naturally affects the evolving regional architecture, how to
maintain Asean centrality, and how Asean can best utilise EAS as a premier
forum to raise Asean's profile and contribution in the global arena.

The special informal meeting would also deliberate on how to ensure the
EAS could respond to the current and emerging challenges the region was facing,
it said.

EAS is a forum for dialogue on broad strategic, political and economic
issues of common interest and concern, with the aim of promoting peace,
stability and economic prosperity in East Asia.

It is an open, inclusive, transparent and outward-looking forum which
strives to strengthen global norms and universally recognised values with Asean
as the driving force working in partnership with other EAS participants.

Apart from the 10 Asean member countries, six other countries -- Australia,
China, India, Japan, New Zealand and South Korea -- are participating in EAS
currently.

The formal entry of United States and Russia into EAS is scheduled this
year.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey
Lavrov attended the Fifth EAS as Guests of the Host in Hanoi on Oct 30, last
year.

According to the statement, the Asean Foreign Ministers would also discuss
preparation for the 18th Asean Summit in Jakarta on May 7 and 8, and the dates
for the 19th Asean Summit and Related Summits in Bali.