DAP: The breaking news in Cambodia: “Cambodia to host ASEAN Regional Forum” plus 3 more

PHNOM PENH, June 29 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia, as the chair of ASEAN in 2012, will host the 45th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' meeting, Post Ministerial Conference, the 19th ASEAN Regional Forum, and the 2nd East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers' meeting on July 6-13, Cambodian foreign ministry said in a press release on Friday.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen will presided over the 45th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' meeting, and Deputy Prime Minister and foreign minister Hor Namhong will chair the remaining meetings, said the press release.

The country will also host other meetings between ASEAN and its dialogue partners, it said.

During the above events, some key documents will be signed by the ASEAN Foreign Ministers and the Foreign Ministers from ASEAN dialogue partners.

Those documents include the statement on the protocol to the treaty on the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone (SEANWFZ), Memorandum of Understanding between ASEAN and China to the treaty on SEANWFZ, and the protocol to the treaty on SEANWFZ.

Also, there will be the signing on Instruments of Extension and Instruments of Accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia by the European Union and the United Kingdom.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) group Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

YANGON, June 29 (Xinhua) -- An economic corridors forum of the Greater Mekong Subregion Economic Cooperation was held in Myanmar' s second largest city of Mandalay Thursday, official media reported Friday.

Held under the theme of "Towards Implementing the new GMS, Strategic Framework (2012-22) : Expanding, Widening and Deepening Economic Corridors in the GMS", the 4th GMS economic corridors forum was attended by representatives from six GMS countries, namely Cambodia, China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam, as well as the Vice Governor of the the Asian Development Bank.

The forum focused on five sections --infrastructural development in transportation, smoothing logistics, trading and transport on GMS economic corridors, urban development, migration and human resources development, prioritized investment in energy, agriculture and related sectors, new GMS strategic framework, regional investment framework and development of economic corridors.

Myanmar Minister of National Planning and Economic Development U Tin Naing Thein held talks with the ADB Vice Governor Stephen Groff on work plans for GMS economic corridors to be implemented in Myanmar,

In December last year, the 4th GMS summit was held in Nay Pyi Taw, endorsing the New 10-year GMS Strategic Framework for 2012- 2022.

The GMS Economic Cooperation Program was started in 1992 by the six countries sharing the Mekong River. It promotes economic and social development, irrigation and cooperation within the six Mekong countries.

BEIJING, June 28 (Xinhua) -- China on Thursday voiced the hope that it will steadily advance cooperation with the United States in the Asia-Pacific region on the basis of mutual respect and mutual benefit.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei made the remarks at a regular press briefing when asked to comment on a senior U.S. official's remarks on China-U.S. ties.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will stress "engagement and cooperation" with China at the Regional Forum of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Cambodia, said Kurt Campbell, U.S. assistant secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, on Wednesday.

The two powers will announce plans to work together on humanitarian disaster relief and wildlife protection, said Campbell.

It is in the interests of the two nations and ASEAN countries for China and the U.S. to enhance communication, cooperation and sound interaction, said Hong.

He said China and the U.S. have conducted useful discussions on cooperation in Asia-Pacific regions in recent years.

"China hopes to push forward cooperation with the United States in the region on the basis of mutual respect and mutual benefit and in a step-by-step manner, so as to jointly promote regional prosperity and stability among countries in the region," he added.