Thais hope to host summit

Thais hope to host summit

BANGKOK (AFP): Thailand hopes to host an informal summit of leaders from Southeast Asia and Europe in March, Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai said yesterday.

Chuan told a luncheon meeting of the Foreign Correspondents Club of Thailand that the summit, proposed by Singapore, was still under discussion but Thailand had said it would be "most willing" to play host.

The summit, bringing together leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the European Union (EU), had initially been suggested for December, coinciding with an ASEAN summit and related meetings.

But to get the most out of the contacts with the EU, ASEAN preferred to delay the meeting to allow for better preparations, Chuan said, adding that "if all goes well," the summit would be held next March.