Security, other ties tabled at Southeast Asia meet

Security, other ties tabled at Southeast Asia meet

BANGKOK (AFP): Politicians from all over Southeast Asia converged on Bangkok on Sunday for a conference aimed at shoring up regional security and boosting cooperation.

Some 250 representatives from eight Association of Southeast Asian Nation (ASEAN) countries and observers met in the Thai capital.

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra was set to launch the 22nd general assembly of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Organization (AIPO) with an address on Monday.

"The main objective of the AIPO General Assembly is to bring about peace, security and prosperity through the strengthening of cooperation among countries in the region," a Thai government statement said.

"Their close cooperation will facilitate the achievements of the goals of ASEAN, aimed at promoting the economic, social and cultural development of the region and safeguarding the regional political and economic stability."

Observers from countries including Australia, Canada, China, Europe and the United States will be kept up to date throughout the conference, which runs until Friday. Women parliamentarians from AIPO will also hold talks.

AIPO comprises delegates from Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. The other two ASEAN members not part of the AIPO grouping, Brunei and Myanmar, have no legislatures but will attend the meeting as observers.

AIPO was introduced by Indonesia in 1974 and officially established as an organization in 1977. This is the fifth time Thailand has hosted an AIPO assembly.