PM Thein Sein to attend ASEAN Summit

by Mizzima News
Monday, 19 October 2009 18:45

Chiang Mai (Mizzima) - Burmese Prime Minister General Thein Sein will attend the 15th summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations’ and related meetings in Thailand.

Burma’s state-run media, the New Light of Myanmar, on Monday announced that Prime Minister Thein Sein, ‘at the invitation of Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vijjajiva’ will attend the ASEAN Summit and related top-level meetings, to be held in Southern Thailand’s resort town of Hua Hin from October 23 to 25.

Burmese representatives, after attending the 2007 ASEAN Summit, skipped the 2008 summit and are rejoining in 2009.

As the top diplomat of the ruling junta, Thein Sein last month attended his first international diplomatic conference at the United Nations General Assembly in New York. The ASEAN Summit will be his second such meeting.

In his public speech at the UNGA, Thein Sein condemned the United States for imposing sanctions on Burma and called the sanctions ‘inhumane’.

Burma, which became a full member of the ASEAN in 1997 attracted criticism over the Burmese junta’s appalling human rights violations.

The summit organised by Thailand, the current chair of the grouping, will also discuss promotion and protection of human rights.

Following the meeting, ASEAN leaders will meet partners China, South Korea, Japan, Australia, India and New Zealand.