Thailand hosts ASEAN Navy Chiefs' Meeting 2014

BANGKOK, August 27 (TNA) - The Royal Thai Navy hosts the ASEAN Navy Chiefs' Meeting 2014, held in Bangkok from August 26-28, in which nine member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) participate. Thai Supreme Commander General Tanasak Patimapragorn inaugurated the meeting at the Millennium Hilton Hotel in the capital on Wednesday morning. The Thai armed forces chief said a goal of the three-day meeting is to form the Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) force, which will offer humanitarian assistance and disaster relief services in the region and other regions. The Thai supreme commander acknowledged that the HADR will be a kind of peace-keeping force and integrate capacities of ASEAN member countries. During the regional gathering, Thai Navy Chief Admiral Narong Pipatanasai represents Thailand to discuss ongoing and future cooperation among ASEAN naval forces and regional marine security. The meeting also focuses on the roles of ASEAN naval forces after the formation of the ASEAN Community (AC) by 2015. Navy chiefs of nine ASEAN member countries, including Brunei, Indonesia, Cambodia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam take part in the three-day forum. Land-locked Lao PDR does not participates in the ongoing meeting in the Thai capital. (TNA)