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SINGAPORE: Singapore's Foreign Affairs Minister George Yeo said the recent unrest in Thailand has held back ASEAN's agenda and that is quite worrying.
However, he noted that the new Thai premier has given his strong commitment to his country's chairmanship of ASEAN and that the ASEAN Summit should be convened either in late January or mid-February next year.
Just days after their special summit in Jakarta, ASEAN countries and their dialogue partners are trying to find a new date that suits all.
He said: "We are finding a window when all 16 leaders involved are free and it is so difficult. I thought we had settled it in Jakarta a few days ago. Now I am told some leaders couldn't make it and we are looking at other windows now. But I am sure we can find something.
"There is a certain urgency and there are some things we can do to help one another. For example, the currency SWAP programme under the Chiangmai Initiative, there is an intention to increase the total quantum.
"The present quantum is US$80 billion. There is a proposal to increase that substantially. The finance ministers would have to discuss this and the leaders would have to decide and this should be done sooner than later."
Mr Yeo was speaking to the media at a community event on Saturday to collect and reuse old school textbooks. - CNA/vm
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