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US, Russia to attend next East Asia Summit

Other News Materials 30 October 2010 13:54 (UTC +04:00)
The United States and Russia on Saturday accepted an invitation from the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) to attend the next East Asia Summit (EAS) as members.
US, Russia to attend next East Asia Summit

The United States and Russia on Saturday accepted an invitation from the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) to attend the next East Asia Summit (EAS) as members, DPA reported.

Both countries had "accepted and confirmed to attend the next EAS in 2011 in Indonesia," said ASEAN spokesman Tran Ngoc An.

The US and Russia were attending the Asian meeting Saturday as special guests, An added.

The summit brings together leaders of the 10 member states of ASEAN, plus Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand and South Korea, as well as the two newest members.

US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton reaffirmed the US position on regional issues such as security in the South China Sea, and Iran and North Korea's nuclear programmes.

"The US has a national interest in the freedom of navigation and unimpeded lawful commerce," and when disputes arise over maritime territory, it is "committed to resolving them peacefully based on customary international law," she said.

Clinton urged EAS leaders to take more prominent roles in dealing with Iran and North Korea's nuclear programs. She also called on EAS nations to work together to improve human rights in the region.

"We do believe that certain values are universal and that they are intrinsic to stable, peaceful and prosperous countries," she said. "Human rights are in everyone's interest."

The EAS, which customarily meets after the annual ASEAN summits, was founded in 2005 as the region's main annual leadership forum to discuss terrorism, climate change, economic challenges, food security and other international problems.

   The member states of ASEAN are Brunei, Myanmar, Indonesia, Laos, Cambodia, the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, which holds the rotating chair of the organization for 2010.

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