Bangkok, ASEAN capitals agree to further develop cooperation

BANGKOK, November 7 (TNA) - Leaders of capital cities in member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), including Bangkok, have agreed to further strengthen their cooperation in various fields, including security, economic, social and cultural spheres. The agreement was reached during the Second Meeting of Governors/Mayors of ASEAN Capitals, hosted by Bangkok from November 5-6, during which ASEAN Deputy Secretary-General A.K.P. Mocthan also participated. At the end of the two-day regional gathering, Bangkok Governor MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra presided over the signing of the "Bangkok Declaration", in which details of the agreement are included. MR Sukhumbhand later told journalists that participants discussed three major issues in line with ASEAN’s three poles, including politics and security, economy and socio-culture, leading to their concluded agreement in the "Bangkok Declaration". According to the Bangkok governor, the "Bangkok Declaration" covers cooperation of ASEAN cities in several areas, including public safety, migration, management of relief operations, transportation, tourism, potential building and human resource development, education, cultural exchanges and social community promotion. Based on the agreement, the Bangkok governor revealed, Hanoi, Vietnam's capital, will initially be an ASEAN leader in the development of regional education, public safety and city planning, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia's capital, will be an ASEAN leader in regional tourism and Bangkok will be an ASEAN leader in regional disaster relief and mitigation. Kuala Lumpur will host the Third Meeting of Governors/Mayors of ASEAN Capitals in 2015, when Malaysia will also head the 10-member bloc to enter the ASEAN Community (AC). (TNA)