Topic - Asean

) is a geo-political and economic organisation of ten countries located in Southeast Asia, which was formed on 8 August 1967 by Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. Since then, membership has expanded to include Brunei, Burma (Myanmar), Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam. Its aims include accelerating economic growth, social progress, cultural development among its members, protection of regional peace and stability, and opportunities for member countries to discuss differences peacefully. - Source: Wikipedia

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Laos' Defence Minister Chansamone Chanyalath addresses the ASEAN Defence Ministers' informal Meeting in Vientiane, Laos, Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)

U.S. defense chief regrets China’s decision not to meet during Southeast Asian security talks

By Jintamas Saksornchai - Associated Press

From left, Singapore's Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, Thailand's Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Vietnam's Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, Chinese Premier Li Qiang, Laos' Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone, Malaysia's Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Brunei Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah hold hands for a photo session during the 27th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-China Summit in Vientiane, Laos, Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)

China defiant over South China Sea skirmishes in ASEAN talks and blames meddling by foreign forces

By Eileen Ng and Jintamas Saksornchai - Associated Press

From left Laos' Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, Brunei Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet hold hands for a photo session during the opening ceremony of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Vientiane, Laos, Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)

Southeast Asian leaders meet in Laos to discuss Myanmar war and disputed sea

By Jintamas Saksornchai and Eileen Ng - Associated Press

Myanmar Foreign Secretary Aung Kyaw Moe, Philippine Foreign Secretar Enrique Manalo, Singapore Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan, Thailand Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa, Vietnam Deputy Foreign Minister Do Hung Viet, Laos Foreign Minister Saleumxay Kommasith, Malaysia Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan, Brunei Darussalam Foreign Minister Erywan Yusof, Cambodia Foreign Minister Sok Chenda Sophea, Indonesia Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi, East Timor Foreign Minister Bendito dos Santos Freitas and ASEAN Secretary General Kao Kim Hourn pose for a group photo during the 57th Association of southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Foreign Ministers' Plenary Meeting session in Vientiane, Laos, Thursday, July 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

Myanmar violence, South China Sea tensions are top issues as Southeast Asian diplomats meet in Laos

By Jintamas Saksornchai - Associated Press

A Chinese high-speed train moves across a bridge over the Mekong River, north of the Laotian city of Luang Prabang on Dec. 12, 2023. Laos has grown increasingly beholden to its giant neighbor to the north with massive amounts of debt to Chinese state banks for multiple infrastructure projects, including a new high-speed rail line across the country, said Muhammad Faizal, with the Institute of Defense and Strategic studies at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore. (AP Photo/David Rising)

Tensions simmering in the South China Sea and violence in Myanmar as Laos takes over ASEAN chair

By David Rising - Associated Press

From left, Brunei's Second Minister of Defense Halbi Mohd Yusof, Cambodia's Defense Minister Tea Seiha, Laos' Defense Minister Chansamone Chanyalath, Malaysia's Defense Minister Mohamad Hasan, Philippine's Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro and Indonesia's Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto hold hands as they pose for a family photo during the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Defense Ministers Meeting in Jakarta, Indonesia, Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2023. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara, Pool)

ASEAN defense chiefs call for the fighting in Gaza to cease but struggle to address Myanmar violence

By Niniek Karmini and Edna Tarigan - Associated Press

China's Premier Li Qiang speaks at the 26th ASEAN-China Summit during the 43rd ASEAN Summit in Jakarta, Indonesia, Wednesday, Sept. 6, 2023. (Yasuyoshi Chiba/Pool Photo via AP)

China’s premier is on a charm offensive as ASEAN summit protests Beijing’s aggression at sea

By Edna Tarigan and Jim Gomez - Associated Press

Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi, center, speaks to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, unseen, during Indonesia-U.S. Ministerial Strategic Dialogue on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Jakarta, Indonesia, Friday, July 14, 2023. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara, Pool)

Southeast Asian nations renew alarm over Myanmar violence. But diplomats can’t settle on a solution

By Niniek Karmini and Jim Gomez - Associated Press

Brunei's Second Minister of Foreign Affair Erywan Yusof, left, is greeted by Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi upon arrival for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Foreign Minister's Meeting in Jakarta, Indonesia, Tuesday, July 11, 2023. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim, Pool)

Indonesia warns nuclear weapons put Southeast Asia a ‘miscalculation away’ from a catastrophe

By Edna Tarigan and Niniek Karmini - Associated Press

Indonesian security officers with their dogs stand guard ahead of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) foreign ministers' meeting in Jakarta, Indonesia, Monday, July 10, 2023. Southeast Asia’s top diplomats gather for talks this week in Indonesia. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana)

Myanmar violence and sea disputes to dominate ASEAN talks joined by U.S., Russian and Chinese envoys

By Niniek Karmini and Jim Gomez - Associated Press

Indonesia President Joko Widodo, center, opens the 42nd ASEAN Summit in Labuan Bajo, East Nusa Tenggara province, Indonesia, Wednesday, May 10, 2023. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim, Pool)

ASEAN leaders condemn attack on aid convoy in Myanmar

By Jim Gomez and Edna Tarigan - Associated Press

An Indonesian Air Force commando stands guard at Komodo Airport ahead of the 42nd Southeast the Association of Southeast Asian Nations meetings in Labuan Bajo, East Nusa Tenggara province, Indonesia, Tuesday, May 9, 2023. (Willy Kurniawan/Pool Photo via AP)

Myanmar violence, sea feud are tough challenges for ASEAN

By Jim Gomez and Edna Tarigan - Associated Press

People stand at a hill to wait for the sunrise in Labuan Bajo, East Nusa Tenggara province, Indonesia, Monday, May 8, 2023. Indonesian President Joko Widodo will host fellow leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations this week in their annual summit in Labuan Bajo. (AP Photo/ Achmad Ibrahim)

ASEAN leaders to tackle regional crises at tropical resort

By Edna Tarigan and Andi Jatmiko - Associated Press

In this photo provided by Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar's Twitter handle, Jaishankar, center, stands with Southeast Asian foreign ministers at the start of a meeting in New Delhi, India, Thursday, June 16, 2022. Jaishankar said India and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations face geopolitical headwinds from the war in Ukraine and its knock-on effects on food and energy security as well as fertilizer and commodities prices and logistics and supply chain disruptions. (Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar's Twitter handle via AP)

India, ASEAN seek to boost ties amid U.S.-China rivalry

By Ashok Sharma - Associated Press

In this image from video broadcast April 18, 2021, over the Myawaddy TV channel, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, chairman of the State Administrative Council, delivers his address to the public during Myanmar New Year. Leaders of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations meet Saturday, April 24, in Jakarta to consider plans to promote a peaceful resolution of the conflict that has wracked Myanmar since its military launched a deadly crackdown on opponents to its seizure of power in February. (Myawaddy TV via AP)

Southeast Asian summit to address Myanmar’s post-coup crisis

By GRANT PECK - Associated Press