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.