NAY PIY TAW, May 10 (Xinhua) -- Leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) will arrive in Myanmar's capital on Saturday to attend meetings that will focus on many issues including Thailand's political crisis, an official said.
Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, who will be the next ASEAN chair, will lead a delegation to arrive in the afternoon, according to local media reports.
Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong will be accompanied by Trade and Industry Minister Lim Hng Kiang, Law and Foreign Affairs Minister K Shanmugam, and senior government officials.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, President Benigno S. Aquino III and Vietnam Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and Brunei's Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah will also attend the 24th ASEAN Summit.
Senior officials from government agencies have begun the task of setting the agenda for the two-day summit, themed "Moving Forward to a Peaceful and Prosperous Community."
The leaders are scheduled to attend a welcome dinner by Myanmar President U Thein Sein for the ASEAN heads of state and government, as well as the opening ceremony, plenary and retreat sessions of the 24th ASEAN Summit on Sunday.
ASEAN Secretary-General Le Luong Minh told reporters on the eve of the summit the grouping will emphasize peace and stability that is absolutely critical for the region's growth.
"We are concerned that if this situation, this crisis, prolongs in Thailand, that will affect ASEAN's community building efforts."
Minh also noted that he was looking forward to beginning " substantive consultations" between ASEAN and China on the South China Sea issue.
During the summit, the leaders are expected to adopt the Nay Pyi Taw Declaration on the realization of the ASEAN Community by 2015, and terms of reference of the ASEAN Secretary-General as the ASEAN Humanitarian Assistance Coordinator.
The leaders are also to take note of five documents, namely, the reports of the ASEAN Political Security Community Council, the ASEAN Economic Community Council, the ASEAN Social and Cultural Community Council, the Secretary General of ASEAN on the 24th ASEAN Summit on the Work of ASEAN and Executive Director of the ASEAN Foundation.
The Nay Pyi Taw Declaration, among others, emphasizes the implementation of the remaining action lines under the ASEAN Community roadmap.
It will also deliberate the formulation of a successor document to the Roadmap or the ASEAN Community Post-2015 vision, and reiterate ASEAN commitment in its collective efforts for a single market and production base.
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