Nusa Dua (ANTARA News) - The 19th ASEAN Summit starts here on Thursday with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono as host of the event welcoming ASEAN`s heads of state and government in Bali Nusa Dua Convention Center.

Accompanied by the First Lady Ani Yudhoyono, the president welcomes Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, Brunei Darussalam`s Sultan Hasanal Bolkiah, Laos Prime Minister Thongsing Thanmavong, Myanmar President Thein Sein, Malaysian Prime Minister Dato Sri Mohd Najib bin Tun Abdul Razak, The Philippines President Benigno Aquino III, Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Thailand`s Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and Vietnam`s Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung.

The leaders during the 19th ASEAN Summit in Nusa Dua are going to discuss several issues namely progress on efforts of realizing ASEAN Community by 2015, implementation of ASEAN Charter including matters of the region`s connectivity.

Thursday`s meeting will also discuss wider regional cooperation including ASEAN`s relations with its partnering countries and exchange views about recent global dynamics.(*)

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Editor: Jafar M Sidik
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