ASEAN Summit opens in Jakarta

JAKARTA, May 7 (UPI) -- Indonesia's president opened the annual Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit in Jakarta Saturday by urging a more robust role for the organization.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and his Thai counterpart, Abhisit Vejjajiva, followed up by asking the organization to mediate their border dispute, Xinhua, the official Chinese news agency, reported. Both said the disagreement undermines stability in the region and threatens ASEAN's plans for greater regional integration.

"Thailand recognizes full well that any conflict between ASEAN member states can undermine ASEAN's community-building efforts."

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said "ASEAN cannot be silent and do nothing" about multinational issues including energy development and disaster relief.

Yudhoyono, the current ASEAN chairman, urged the delegates to make progress on specific business-related issues such as renewable energy and implementing the master plan for the ASEAN Connectivity project.

Southeast Asia is becoming an increasingly important center of manufacturing for both the regional and global markets.

Xinhua said the agenda for the summit also includes discussions on climate change and meetings with representatives of social organizations that will make ASEAN accessible to citizens of the region.