ASEAN remains important body for SE Asia

ASEAN remains important body for SE Asia

Agence France-Presse, Singapore

ASEAN remains an important body for Southeast Asian countries and members should cooperate to keep the group cohesive irrespective of bilateral problems, Singapore President S.R. Nathan said.

Nathan, speaking on late Thursday at a state dinner for visiting Brunei Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, rejected allegations that the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), founded in 1967, was in decline.

"We share a common interest in keeping ASEAN robust and relevant. Despite what some critics might say, ASEAN is not an organization that is on the wane, or past its prime," Nathan said.

"It remains as relevant today as it was 35 years ago," particularly for smaller members such as Singapore and Brunei, he added.

"We share a mutual interest in ensuring regional peace and stability. We also face common challenges, such as the impact of globalization," he said.

"Indeed, there is much scope for us to do more to make the expanded ASEAN a cohesive and vibrant community."

Sultan Hassanal is in the middle of a three-day visit to Singapore where he will also meet with Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong and Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew.

He will also visit the Singapore Armed Forces commando headquarters and meet with personnel from the Royal Brunei Armed Forces on training attachment here.

ASEAN includes Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. Some of the members are involved in conflicting territorial claims and