India to be invited to next summit

India to be invited to next summit

BRUNEI: India will be invited to a summit with the Association of
Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) next year, mirroring a two-year-
old arrangement that has led to closer ties between the 10-
country grouping and China, Japan and South Korea, officials said
on Tuesday.

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra of Thailand, attending the
annual summit of the Southeast Asian countries and the three
Northeast Asian powers, confirmed that ASEAN would invite India
to a special summit in Cambodia next year.

Officials said that the summit with India would take place
during the annual series of summits between ASEAN and China,
Japan and South Korea, possibly extending the gatherings from the
current two days to three. India would not be included in the
talks with the Northeast Asian countries. --AP