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