PM Lee to attend ASEAN, related summits in Phnom Penh

SINGAPORE: Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong will attend the 21st ASEAN summit and its related summits in Phnom Penh, Cambodia from 18—20 November.

Mr Lee will also take part in the ASEAN Plus One summits with China, India, Japan and South Korea, and the 4th ASEAN—US Leaders Meeting, says a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office.

In addition, Mr Lee will participate in the ASEAN Plus Three Commemorative Summit involving the leaders from ASEAN, China, Japan and South Korea.

Mr Lee will also be in Phnom Penh for the 7th East Asia Summit which includes all 10 ASEAN leaders and their counterparts from Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Russia and the United States.

The leaders will discuss the progress in ASEAN’s community building efforts towards their common goal of realising the ASEAN Community by 2015.

They will also exchange views on regional and international issues as well as discuss ASEAN’s role in the regional political, economic and security architecture.

The ASEAN leaders will sign the Phnom Penh Statement on the Adoption of the ASEAN Human Rights Declaration.

The leaders from ASEAN, Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand and South Korea will also launch negotiations for the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership.

During Mr Lee’s absence, Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs Teo Chee Hean will be the Acting Prime Minister.

— CNA/ir