ASEAN opens annual summit in Bali

Indonesia's President and current Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Chair, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, has officially opened the 19th ASEAN Summit in Bali.

  

The 19th ASEAN Summit in Nusa Dua. (AFP PHOTO / SONNY TUMBELAKA)

 

In his speech in Bahasa Indonesia, the Indonesian President outlined some key objectives which he said he hopes the Summit will achieve.

 

Among them is the strengthening of the key pillars of ASEAN in the social, economic and political front.

 

Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong is also in Bali for the three day Summit.

 

Thailand's new Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra is making her first ASEAN appearance since she was elected Prime Minister.

 

Ms Yingluck had to skip the recent Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC) leaders summit in Honolulu because of the flood situation in Bangkok.

 

- CNA/fa