Thai foreign minister in Brunei for regional gathering

BANGKOK, June 30 (TNA) - Thai Foreign Affairs Surapong Tovichakchaikul is attending the annual gathering of ASEAN foreign ministers in Brunei’s capital Bandar Seri Begawan, with focus on disaster cooperation, food security and narcotics suppression. Progress on ASEAN Community building and identifying priority issues for the years leading up to 2015 were set to determine the meeting agenda from 29 June-2 July. According to the Thai Foreign Ministry, Mr. Surapong would focus on disaster and weather cooperation, increasing the region’s fire-fighting capacity in order to reduce haze pollution; food security by exploring further possibilities to expand ASEAN cooperation in food reserves to include crops other than rice; and combating drugs by increasing cooperation in the exchange of information and intelligence on drug traffickers in the region. (TNA)