Thailand deemed ready to host ASEAN

BANGKOK, Jan. 3 (UPI) -- Thailand is ready to play host to next month's Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit despite its recent political turmoil, officials for the group say.

ASEAN Secretary-General Surin Pitsuwan said Saturday that after holding talks with Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya, he's confident the conference, set for Feb. 27 to March 1, can go on after being postponed one month, the Thai News Agency reported.

Surin, a former Thai prime minister, said hosting the summit will boost the international community's confidence in Thailand in the face of recent mass protests that shut down the nation's tourism industry. He told TNA Thailand is capable of holding the meeting and that he is awaiting word from China on whether it will attend as a dialogue partner.

Participants said major issues to be discussed by ASEAN include transnational labor concerns, human trafficking and the ASEAN peacekeeping force, the news agency said.