The 11th ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) plus
Three (China, Japan and South Korea) summit opened in Singapore
Tuesday.
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and leaders from the 10 ASEAN
countries, as well as Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda and
South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun were present at the
meeting.
The ASEAN plus Three mechanism was established in the late
1990s, when ASEAN countries decided to enhance cooperation with
other major economies of Asia.
The framework, initially focusing on economic cooperation, have
expanded in recent years to sectors of politics, security, culture
and other areas.
Leaders from China, Japan, South Korea and the 10 ASEAN
countries meet annually to discuss cooperation and major
international and regional issues.
Founded in 1967, ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos,
Malaysia, Myanmer, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and
Vietnam.
(Xinhua News Agency November 20, 2007)
