ASEAN calls off meeting

ASEAN calls off meeting

BANGKOK (AFP): The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has called off an informal meeting with economic partners Japan, South Korea and China that had been set for later this month, a news report said.

Host Thailand informed the other nations of the postponement this week, saying "some countries which were invited to come are not ready to attend," the Bangkok Post quoted a diplomatic source as saying Thursday.

But Thailand reiterated its readiness to host the meeting at a later date, the report said.

ASEAN groups Thailand with Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei and the Philippines.

Malaysia's proposal for an East Asia Economic Caucus (EAEC) would expand that group to include Japan, South Korea and China.

ASEAN economic ministers are to meet from April 25 on the southern Thai resort island of Phuket. An informal of the proposed EAEC was to have been held during the ASEAN conference.