BANGKOK, Nov. 3 (Xinhua) -- The 35th summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the related summits kicked off here on Sunday with focus on multilateralism and connectivity.
Addressing the opening ceremony of the summit, Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said to create a prosperous and sustainable region, "we should continue to work to conclude negations on the RCEP (the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership) within this year to stimulate economic growth as well as trade and investment."
The Thai prime minister also called for continued support for multilateral trade system under the purview of the World Trade Organization as well as regional and sub-regional economic cooperation frameworks so as to enhance the economic resilience of ASEAN and the region.
Under the theme "Advancing Partnership for sustainability," the ASEAN summit will sum up the bloc's achievements in community building and integration during 2019, tap the opportunities arising from digital transformation and seek solutions to economic uncertainties facing the bloc.
Thailand holds the rotating chair of the ASEAN for 2019.
Established in 1967, ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
