East Asian Studies Group to be set up
Ha Noi, March 18 (VNA) -- ASEAN countries, China, Japan and the Republic of Korea (RoK) have agreed to set up a joint East Asian Studies Group (EASG).
The agreement, made in furtherance of a decision of the Summit between ASEAN and China, Japan and the RoK held in Singapore in November last year, was reached at a Senior Official Meeting of 13 countries (SOM/ASEAN+3) in Ho Chi Minh City on March 17.
The EASG will include senior officials from 10 member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), China, Japan and the Republic of Korea (RoK), and the ASEAN General Secretary. Viet Nam, now is holding the post of ASEAN President, was appointed to be the group's coordinator among ASEAN countries; and the RoK, a coordinator of the three remaining countries.
Participants agreed to hold the EASG's meeting in Ha Noi in May 2001 on the occasion of a special SOM meeting.--VNA
