ASEAN plus Three Senior Officials' Meeting kicks off

PHNOM PENH, May 25 (Xinhua) -- ASEAN plus Three Senior Officials' Meeting kicked off here on Friday to strengthen the regional cooperation between ASEAN member states and their dialogue partners.

According to the press release, the senior officials exchanged views on regional and international issues.

The key topics include the implementation of the ASEAN plus Three Work Plan (2007-2012); ASEAN plus Three Connectivity; Chiang Mai initiative Multilateralization; the preparation for the upcoming ASEAN plus Three Foreign Ministers' Meeting in this July; and also the preparations for the 21st ASEAN Summit and Related Summits.

Soeung Rathchavy, secretary of state with Cambodia's foreign ministry and the chair of this meeting, told the reporters at the sidelines that more topics were also discussed during the close- door meeting.

She said that the there are only three years left for achieving the target of establishment of the ASEAN Community in 2015. The officials from the three dialogue partners, namely China, Japan and Republic of Korea, expressed their confidence towards this target.

"Meanwhile, the dialogue partners will continue their support on ASEAN's core leadership in dealing with regional issues," said Soeung.

According to Soeung, the senior officials decided to choose Cambodia's city of Siem Reap as the cultural city in the East Asian region this year for cultural tourism promotion and also as part of the celebration of the 15th anniversary of the establishment of ASEAN plus Three dialogue mechanism.

Fu Ying, China's Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, addressed the meeting. 

Sourced: Xinhuanet