VIENTIANE, Laos (Reuters) — Leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) gathered for a second day of meetings in Laos on Wednesday (September 7), as they prepared to hold discussions with international dialogue partners.
The meeting hosted by Laos, the rotating chair, is expected to cover a range of regional and international issues, Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith said at the opening remarks.
The rift involving a few ASEAN nations and China on the South China Sea territorial issue will be high on agenda.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Tuesday (September 6) promised to provide two large sized patrol ship and up to five used surveillance aircraft for the Philippines during a bilateral talks with newly elected President Rodrigo Duterte.
ASEAN leaders will meet China, which claims a large part of the resource-rich waters, as well as head of states from Japan, South Korea, Australia later in the day.
