Chiang Mai potential venue for ASEAN summit

Written by Writer on Friday, October 24th, 2008

Chiang Mai potential venue for ASEAN summit

Spokesman of Ministry of Foreign Affairs disclosed the Government was singling out new venue for ASEAN summit to be held in December this year, possibly in Chiang Mai. The decision was expected to be reached around the end of October.

Mr. Tharit Charoongwat, Director-General of Department of Information, in his capacity as Spokesman of Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said on Thursday (October 23) that Thai authorities were considering a possibility to change ASEAN summit’s meeting to be held between December 15 and 18 this year for fear that prevailing prolonged local political problem may adversely affect the meeting.

The Thai Government, he said, was considering a number of alternative options. The relevant authorities, he added, have been traveling to Chiang Mai to consider as a possible venue for the ASEAN summit. The decision was expected to reach around the end of this month.

Earlier, the authorities tentatively agreed to choose either Chiang Mai or Centara Grand located at Ratchaprasong intersection in Bangkok as a venue. But final decision has not yet been reached.

Apart from 10 ASEAN members, 17 leaders of ASEAN’s partners would join the meeting, including United Nations (UN) secretary-general, Mr. Bun Kee Moon who will attend the third ASEAN-UN summit. Leaders of the world’s leading organizations will also participate the ASEAN summit, including those from World Bank and Asian Development Bank.

National News Bureau of Thailand
Friday 24 October 2008