ID :
48214
Sat, 02/28/2009 - 18:51
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/48214
The shortlink copeid
ASEAN LEADERS BEGIN ANNUAL SUMMIT
HUA HIN, Feb 28 (Bernama) -- Leaders from 10 Asean countries began their annual consultation on Saturday, with major focus on the massive global economic crisis that is slashing down growth and employment in the region, as well as the tricky issue of Rohingya refugees.
The 14th Asean Summit is the first meeting at leaders' level after the Asean
Charter came to force last December which turns the 42-year-old grouping into a
rule-based organisation.
Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who arrived here
on Friday after attending the Asean Defence Ministers' Meeting in Pattaya, is
leading the Malaysian delegation at the summit as leaders seek to strengthen
regional cooperation and work towards the Asean Economic Community (AEC)
integration by 2015.
Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, who came to office just three months
ago, chairs the summit where leaders would discuss the worst economic condition
since the 1997 financial crisis, and efforts to rally together and stem the
effect of the crisis on the 570 million people in the region.
One of the main fears among the leaders is the increasing protectionism
applied by some countries to safeguard their economies in the wake of the global
crisis.
The stateless Rohingya refugees issue is set to dominate the agenda as
well,
as their fate depends on the cooperation and understanding of many countries
especially Thailand, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Indonesia and most importantly
Myanmar which has yet to acccept them as citizen.
On the sidelines of the summit, Abdullah, Abhisit and Indonesian President
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono will discuss ways to further strengthen sub-regional
cooperation at the Fourth Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle (IMT-GT)
Summit.
Abdullah, accompanied by Foreign Minister Rais Yatim, will then
attend the 5th Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East Asean Growth Area
(BIMP-EAGA) Leaders Summit Sunday.
Later Saturday, Abdullah, accompanied by Jeanne Abdullah, will join
other Leaders at a royal audience with King Bhumibol Adulyadej.
-- BERNAMA
The 14th Asean Summit is the first meeting at leaders' level after the Asean
Charter came to force last December which turns the 42-year-old grouping into a
rule-based organisation.
Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who arrived here
on Friday after attending the Asean Defence Ministers' Meeting in Pattaya, is
leading the Malaysian delegation at the summit as leaders seek to strengthen
regional cooperation and work towards the Asean Economic Community (AEC)
integration by 2015.
Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, who came to office just three months
ago, chairs the summit where leaders would discuss the worst economic condition
since the 1997 financial crisis, and efforts to rally together and stem the
effect of the crisis on the 570 million people in the region.
One of the main fears among the leaders is the increasing protectionism
applied by some countries to safeguard their economies in the wake of the global
crisis.
The stateless Rohingya refugees issue is set to dominate the agenda as
well,
as their fate depends on the cooperation and understanding of many countries
especially Thailand, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Indonesia and most importantly
Myanmar which has yet to acccept them as citizen.
On the sidelines of the summit, Abdullah, Abhisit and Indonesian President
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono will discuss ways to further strengthen sub-regional
cooperation at the Fourth Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle (IMT-GT)
Summit.
Abdullah, accompanied by Foreign Minister Rais Yatim, will then
attend the 5th Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East Asean Growth Area
(BIMP-EAGA) Leaders Summit Sunday.
Later Saturday, Abdullah, accompanied by Jeanne Abdullah, will join
other Leaders at a royal audience with King Bhumibol Adulyadej.
-- BERNAMA
