ASEAN aims at sustainability

The 34th summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, is expected to adopt policies promoting sustainable development, pushing the region to go beyond the economic gains it has reaped in the past few years, analysts say.

Leaders of Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam will meet in Bangkok on June 22-23 to discuss policies in line with the summit's theme, Advancing Partnership for Sustainability.

Suriya Chindawongse, director-general of the Department of ASEAN Affairs at the Thai Foreign Ministry, said this year's summit will focus on building a people-centered ASEAN community "that leaves no one behind and looks to the future", according to a report in The Bangkok Post newspaper.