President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is to attend the 15th Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit and Related Summits in Thailand on Oct. 23 – 25, 2009.
ASEAN will announce the establishment of an ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR). The ten countries that make up AICHR will appoint a commissioner each to serve for three years. Other issues on the agenda include the recommendation to establish a free trade agreement between South East Asia and East Asia.
The ASEAN member countries include Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. The ASEAN leaders will likewise meet with the six dialogue partners: China, India, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, and the Republic of Korea. (PIA-MMIO)
