The Upcoming 14Th ASEAN Summit to Be Held in Chiang Mai (21/11/2008)
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The Upcoming 14th ASEAN Summit to be Held in Chiang Mai (21/11/2008) Chiang Mai province in the North will be the venue for the upcoming 14th ASEAN Summit and related meetings, hosted by Thailand, as the present Chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. The 14th ASEAN Summit and related meetings will take place at the Shangri-La Hotel, Chiang Mai, from December 15 to 18, while the opening ceremony will be held at the Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhevi Hotel. Chiang Mai, a prime tourist destination, has long been recognized as a cultural, educational, and tourism center in northern Thailand. It has been promoted as the center of the Greater Mekong Subregion, which comprises Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, and Chinas southern province of Yunnan. In terms of its geographical position, this province can serve as a bridge to major cities in the Greater Mekong Subregion, such as Kunming in southern China, Da Nang in Vietnam, and Siem Reap in Cambodia. These subregional linkages will help narrow the development gap between the old and new members of ASEAN. Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Vietnam are considered new ASEAN members. Thailand has focused on its effort to integrate these neighboring countries by lending support to the Initiative for ASEAN Integration. Meanwhile, Thailand delivered the 10th and final instrument of ratification of the ASEAN Charter on November 14, when Ambassador Don Pramudwinai, Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Thailand to the United Nations, deposited the document with Dr. Surin Pitsuwan, Secretary-General of ASEAN at the Thai mission in Jakarta, Indonesia. On November 15, Mr. Vitavas Srivihok, Director-General of Thailands Department of ASEAN Affairs, also deposited the instrument of ratification to Dr. Surin in Bangkok. On November 12, Philippines deposited its instrument of ratification of the ASEAN Charter, and a day later November 13, Indonesia deposited its instrument of ratification. With the ratification of the ASEAN Charter by all 10 ASEAN member countries, the ASEAN Charter will enter into force on 15 December 2008 during the 14th ASEAN Summit in Chiang Mai. The ASEAN leaders signed the charter in November 2007 at the 13th ASEAN Summit. They urged their member states to fully ratify it by the end of 2008. All member states have now responded to their call. When they meet again in Chiang Mai, they will celebrate not only the full ratification of the ASEAN Charter, but also the entering into force of the new basic law of ASEAN. ASEAN leaders recently sent their officials to Chiang Mai to see preparations for the upcoming ASEAN Summit. They are satisfied with the venue for the summit and other related meetings, since Chiang Mai is equipped with full facilities for major conferences. 29/09/2021 Page 1 กรมประชาสัมพันธ์.