Southeast Asia’s Revival to Be Discussed

Southeast Asia’s economic revival in the three years since it was struck by a crippling financial crisis will figure high on the agenda of gatherings this week by foreign ministers. Officials of 10 countries of the Assn. of Southeast Asian Nations will confer among themselves and with dialogue partners including the U.S., China, Japan, South Korea and the European Union during annual meetings starting today. For the first time, North Korea will join a meeting of the ASEAN Regional Forum, Asia’s biggest security conference, which also includes the United States, Japan, South Korea and China. ASEAN comprises Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.