| |
| |
![]() |
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
HUA HIN, Thailand : Asian leaders meet in Thailand amid tight security this weekend to discuss ways to deepen economic ties and sustain the region's rebound from the recent global downturn, officials said.
A long-awaited but controversial rights body is also set for its official launch, while leaders from the region of nearly 600 million people are expected to grapple with climate change and disaster management.
Ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and key regional partners began to gather on Thursday at the elite beach resort of Hua Hin, with the leaders due to arrive on Friday.
Dozens of armoured vehicles were on Thursday backing up around 18,000 security personnel deployed in the town under harsh laws invoked by the government.
The meeting was originally to be held in the holiday playground of Pattaya in April but was called off after anti-government protesters stormed the venue and forced foreign leaders to flee.
This weekend's summit involving Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam will be followed by talks with China, Japan, South Korea, India, Australia and New Zealand.
Asia's quick recovery from the global recession compared with the United States and other Western economies is expected to set the mood for talks on further freeing up the flow of trade, investment and people across the region.
"Asia is poised to take on a bigger role on the global stage after the dust from the economic crisis has settled," a senior Southeast Asian trade official told AFP.
ASEAN's goal to establish an EU-style community by 2015 and expand trade and economic links to include regional giants such as China and India is the "key to unlocking Asia's full potential", the official said.
A statement by the leaders will reaffirm their "commitment to support the establishment of an ASEAN community comprising three pillars, namely political and security cooperation, economic cooperation and socio-cultural cooperation", according to a draft obtained by AFP.
Separately, the bloc will on Friday launch a long-awaited human rights body, which is designed to answer criticism that the region is soft on member countries such as military-ruled Myanmar.
The United Nations on Thursday urged leaders to make the new ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights "credible".
The body has been criticised for focusing on the promotion of rights rather than protection and for having no power to punish member nations.
A draft declaration to be released at the launch of the commission said that the body was a "historic milestone".
Myanmar's continued detention of democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi is likely to come under the spotlight, as the United States embarks on a major policy shift to re-engage the military.
Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya said that Myanmar had endorsed the human rights body and would be appointing a representative to it, but ducked questions about pressing Myanmar to free Suu Kyi.
The environment will also be a major topic, with ASEAN leaders expected to issue a statement urging developed nations to make deeper cuts in carbon emissions, underscoring the rift between rich and poor countries.
A draft statement pledges support for a December meeting in Copenhagen at which 192 countries will attempt to hammer out a new global climate treaty but says developed nations bear a "historical responsibility" to act first.
ASEAN and its partner nations are also expected to issue statements on food security cooperation and disaster management.
But long-running regional disagreements simmered on the sidelines of the summit.
Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva rebuked neighbouring Cambodia's premier Hun Sen on Thursday for his invitation to fugitive former Thai leader Thaksin Shinawatra to visit "anytime".
- AFP /ls
|
