51st ASEAN-SINGAPORE: First meeting of ASEAN under Singapore’s chairmanship of Foreign ministers convene in Singapore

Photo below shows Asean foreign ministers get ready for a group photo ahead of their meeting at the Asean Foreign Ministers’ Retreat in Singapore. From left: Malaysia’s Anifah Haji Aman; the Philippines’ Alan Peter Cayetano; Vietnam’s Pham Binh Minh; Singapore’s Vivian Balakrishnan; Thailand’s Don Pramudwinai; Dato Seri Paduka Awang Haji Erywan bin Pehin Datu Pekerma Jaya Haji Mohd Yusof, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade II; and Cambodia’s Prak Sokhonn. – PHOTO: AP

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SOUTHEAST Asian foreign ministers yesterday opened informal talks in Singapore to discuss plans to build a network of smart cities across the region and bolster cooperation to fight terrorism and transnational crime.

It marked the ministers’ first meeting this year under Singapore’s chairmanship of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations.