Asian countries organize symposium on cooperation possibilities with Andean nations

Lima, April 25. "The Andean Community and ASEAN in the new millennium." Such is the title of the symposium that will be held this coming May 8 and 9 in Bangkok to strengthen the links between these two integration groups and explore areas for future cooperation between them.

The Thai government is organizing the symposium with a view to reinforcing the political, economic, social and technological relations between the two groups and their respective secretariats. The intention is to define and lay the groundwork for drawing up a mutually beneficial association strategy.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is a regional cooperation group established to promote active collaboration and mutual assistance among the members: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.

ASEAN and CAN government and private sector representatives will be present at the Meeting. As Chairman of the 33rd Permanent Committee of ASEAN, CAN Secretary General Sebastián Alegrett has received a special invitation from Thai Foreign Minister Surin Pitsuwan.

The idea of organizing this seminar was born in Lima, in June in1999, during a special visit by the Thai Prime Minister to Latin America. It later received the backing of the ASEAN member countries as a group.

A presentation will be made on the possibilities for cooperation between CAN and ASEAN from the viewpoints of the two groups. The symposium program will also include a round table discussion of cooperation on economic, scientific and tourist matters, among other issues.