Thailand to welcome ASEAN leaders, partner countries

BANGKOK, Thailand

Thailand is all set to welcome the leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and partner countries at the regional bloc's 35th summit in the capital Bangkok.

Besides Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-Cha, who will represent the country, leaders of all ASEAN member countries are scheduled to attend the three-day summit starting on Saturday.

The summit, which is going to be held under the theme of Advancing Partnership for Sustainability, will host a series of events, providing opportunities to discuss a range of issues including politics, security, economy, socio-culture, business, sustainable development, climate change and education.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo, the Philippines' President Rodrigo Duterte, Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, Myanmar State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi, Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen, Laotian Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith and Brunei's Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah have confirmed their attendance.

In addition, a number of partner country leaders will also attend several related meetings.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzo, South Korean Prime Minister Lee Nak-yeon, Chinese President Xi Jinping, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, as well as Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison to attend the East Asia Business Council meeting and ASEAN's Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership council meeting.

But U.S. President Donald Trump has decided to skip the summit for the second year in a row.

Earlier, the White House announced that the Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross will represent the U.S. at the annual meeting.