Updated: 11/18/2012 06:46

Shanmugam: ASEAN leaders meeting to be positive, discussions on track

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Foreign Affairs Minister K Shanmugam says ASEAN can look forward to a positive summit.

He also says trade ministers' discussions are on track.

ASEAN foreign ministers met ahead of the 21st ASEAN Summit in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

He stressed that the key aspect that ASEAN has to bear in mind is the economic agenda and achieving the vision of an ASEAN Economic Community by 2015.

This aims to bring together the people-to-people ties, commercial aspects and physical connectivity for ASEAN's benefit.

Mr Shanmugam also said ASEAN needs to ensure that issues do not sidetrack the grouping from fundamental matters.

He reiterated that ASEAN does not want the South China Sea issue to become the predominant subject of discussions.

He added that there was not much discussion on the issue during meetings among the foreign ministers.