Minister George Yeo attended the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Retreat in Danang, Vietnam on 13-14 January 2010.
Following their road trip through Thailand, Laos and Vietnam to familiarise themselves with the state of road connections in the region, the Ministers discussed how connectivity within ASEAN could be improved. The Ministers also approved the Terms of Reference for the High Level Task Force (HLTF) to study ASEAN Connectivity. This enables the HLTF to be convened soon and to begin work on implementing the October 2009 ASEAN Leaders' Statement on ASEAN Connectivity.
The ASEAN Foreign Ministers also discussed and supported the convening of summits with the United States and Russia in Hanoi this year.
In response to press queries, Minister Yeo commented that the Australian proposal on an Asia Pacific community was discussed by the ASEAN Foreign Ministers, although without great enthusiasm. The Ministers agreed that any new proposal on the regional architecture should be based on the central role of ASEAN, and must build upon and strengthen existing ASEAN-based structures.
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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
SINGAPORE
14 JANUARY 2010