ASEAN Summit 2013 to be held in Brunei

BANGKOK, April 12 (TNA) - Brunei Darussalam will host the 22nd leadership summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Naions (ASEAN) from April 24-25, 2013, with discussions to be focused on public participation in regional issues and cooperation among member countries on countering new forms of regional threats. Thai Deputy Minister and Foreign Minister Surapong Towijakchaikul told journalists of the scheduled ASEAN Summit 2013 and its agenda, after attending a regional ministerial meeting to prepare for this year's leadership gathering in Brunei on Thursday. Surapong said Brunei, as the current chair of the 10-member ASEAN bloc, also promised to carry on and materialize all issues and plans having agreed by the ASEAN member states. Surapong noted that the ASEAN Summit 2013 will also focus on regional cooperation against new forms of transnational threats, including drugs, human trafficking and disaster relief efforts, and that Thailand has proposed accelerating the conclusion of an ASEAN convention against human trafficking and a regional action plan on the issue. According to the deputy premier, Thailand and South Korea will, meanwhile, jointly organize the next ASEAN Regional Forum Disaster Relief Exercise from May 7-11, 2013; while the Thai Kingdom will also host a meeting on the promotion of regional connectivity in July, prior to the ASEAN Summit 2013 in Brunei. (TNA)