CEBU, Philippines, Jan. 13 (Xinhua) -- The 12th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit opened here Saturday in Cebu, central Philippines, after it was postponed by the host in December 2006 citing possible major "weather disturbance."

    The ASEAN Summit, originally slated for Dec. 10-14, 2006, was postponed by the Philippine Organizing Committee of the summit on Dec. 8, 2006.

    The ASEAN Summit is an annual meeting held on a rotational basis by the country which holds the chairmanship of the ASEAN Standing Committee.

    The Summit is geared toward strengthening ASEAN as a regional institution that is competent in managing issues of regional and international concern in an effective and productive way.

    The Summit will provide opportunities for leaders of ASEAN member countries to evaluate the relations and cooperation within the grouping as well as identifying the most appropriate measures in defining the direction of ASEAN.

    The official theme of the 12th ASEAN Summit is "One Caring and Sharing Community."

    Closer integration of ASEAN, energy security and counter-terrorism are highlights of the topics of the 12th ASEAN Summit.

    Summits of ASEAN and its dialogue partners, namely China, Japan, South Korea, India, Australia and New Zealand, allow the grouping to strengthen its cooperation with these nations.

    Other related summits scheduled to take place this time include the 10th ASEAN +3 (ASEAN + China, Japan, South Korea) Summit, the 10th ASEAN + China Summit, the 10th ASEAN + Japan Summit, the 10th ASEAN + South Korea Summit, the 3rd BIMP-EAGA (Brunei Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines - East ASEAN Growth Area) Summit and the second East Asia Summit.

    ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.