The 34th ASEAN Summit kicks off in Thailand
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Ministers hold hands at ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting on Saturday. (Photo by ASEAN)

Bangkok, (People’s Daily) - The 34th ASEAN Summit started in Bangkok on Saturday as officials from member states arrived at the venue in the Thai capital to participate in ministerial meetings. 

Asean Secretary General Dato Lim Jock Hoi, Thai Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai, and other Foreign Ministers from the Southeast Asian bloc attended the Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM) to discuss ways to strengthen the ASEAN Community, the group’s relations with partners outside the region, and regional security architecture. 

Chutima Bunyapraphasara, Deputy Minister of Commerce of Thailand, discussed the provisions of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) during a ministerial meeting.

Ministers attended the 19th ASEAN Political-Security Community (APSC) Council Meeting where progress made by the ASEAN Sectoral Bodies and meetings under the APSC, as well as the implementation of the APSC Blueprint 2025 was discussed.

Saturday’s agenda also included the 23nd ASEAN Coordinating Council Meeting, ASEAN Leaders’ Interface with Representatives of ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly, ASEAN Leaders’ Interface with Representatives of ASEAN Youth, ASEAN Leaders’ Interface with Representatives of ASEAN Business Advisory Council, 34th ASEAN Summit (Plenary) and Gala Dinner for the ASEAN Leaders and ASEAN Secretary-General.

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Tightened security in Bangkok. (Photo by Zhao Yipu/ People's Daily)

The opening ceremony of the 34th ASEAN Summit will take place on 23 June, where leaders of the 10 ASEAN countries will be present. A press conference presided by Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha will be held Sunday afternoon.

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A billboard announcing the 34th ASEAN Summit in Bangkok. (Photo by Zhao Yipu/ People's Daily)

ASEAN leaders who will attend this year’s summit include Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad; Sultan of Brunei Hassanal Bolkiah, Burmese State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, Laotian President Thongloun Sisoulith, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, Prime Minister of Vietnam Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Indonesian President Joko Widodo and Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

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Photo by Sun Guangyong/ People's Daily

Under the theme “Advancing Partnership for Sustainability”, the 34th ASEAN Summit focuses on promoting sustainability across all three pillar communities: the ASEAN Political-Security Community (APSC), the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) and ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC). Strengthening relations with partners for sustainable development will be an important topic.

(By Zhao Yipu and Sun Guangyong)