The ASEAN Summit in Cambodia is being attended by all ten ASEAN member countries` heads of state.
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is being represented by Vice President Boediono at the Summit.
Following the opening ceremony, the ASEAN leaders will attend a plenary session and working lunch and will later hold a meeting with representatives of the ASEAN civil society and youth.
In the evening, Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni will host a state banquet for the ASEAN leaders.
The ASEAN Summit will continue until April 4, was preceded by ministerial-level meetings.
While in Cambodia, Boediono is accompanied by Foreign Affairs Minister Marty Natalegawa, Trade Minister Gita Wirjawan and Cabinet Secretary Dipo Alam.
On the evening of April 2, Gita addressed the press saying that the ASEAN ministerial meetings had reached a number of agreements regarding efforts toward creating an ASEAN Community by 2015.
He also said that Indonesia officials believe economic cooperation among members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have not been fully exploited.
ASEAN trade ministers also agreed that cooperation among member countries needs to be increased.
"At the current meeting of the ASEAN Economic Community Council, ASEAN trade ministers have expressed the need for member countries to take a stand with regard to the current world economic situation, marked by several other countries including China and India, revising their economic growth to become stronger and solid enough to meet the challenges," he noted.
Minister Wirjawan said efforts to increase the region`s economic potential must include focusing on economic integration among members and involve the private sector in each member country. (*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2012
