On 12 January 2010, Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya welcomed ASEAN Foreign Ministers and their representatives, the ASEAN Secretary-General and experts from the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia - ERIA and the Mekong Institute at Suvarnbhumi Airport. The delegation will travel together on Route 9, from Mukdahan Province (Thailand) — Savannakhet Province (Lao PDR) — Da Nang (Viet Nam), to attend the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Retreat at Furama Resort, Da Nang, Viet Nam during 13 — 14 January 2010.
An important issue to be discussed during the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Retreat is “ASEAN Connectivity” which is a key to creating the ASEAN Community. In this regard, this trip will provide high level representatives from ASEAN Member States an opportunity to experience by themselves the conditions, developments and limitations of ASEAN physical connectivity. Moreover, the high level representatives of ASEAN will also have a chance to discuss with experts from various institutions about ways, policies and how ASEAN Member States can cooperate to promote and further enhance the ASEAN Connectivity during the Meeting.
The Meeting will also provide a good opportunity for the exchange of views on the prioritization of ASEAN activities in 2010, important regional and international developments and how to advance “ASEAN Centrality” in the fast-changing strategic regional architecture.
For further information, please contact the Press Division, Department of Information, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Tel.02-6435170, Fax.02-6435169, E-mail: div0704@mfa.go.th