BANGKOK, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- Leaders from the 10 member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) as well as China, Japan and South Korea will meet here from Sunday to Monday for the 22nd ASEAN plus three summit (10+3) as well as their respective ASEAN plus one summits (10+1).
The ASEAN plus China, Japan, South Korea cooperation mechanism incorporates the 10+3 as well as the 10+1 framework. The latter stands for ASEAN's respective cooperation mechanism with China, Japan and South Korea.
The two frameworks were established in the late 1990s when ASEAN countries decided to enhance cooperation with other major economies of Asia against the backdrop of economic globalization.
The first ASEAN plus three summit was held in Malaysia in 1997, a time when countries in the region were facing an economic setback. The financial crisis was regarded as having provided the impetus for this summit.
The two frameworks, initially focused on economic cooperation, have expanded in recent years to the fields of politics, security and culture. Nowadays, they have developed into mechanisms of great significance in strengthening and deepening regional cooperation, particularly in economic, social and political areas.
A number of dialogue mechanisms at various levels have been established within the framework of 10+3, covering diplomacy, economy, finance, agriculture, labor, tourism, environment, the fight against cross-border crime, health care, energy, telecommunications, social welfare and administration innovation.
Within the framework of 10+1, great emphasis has been put on cooperation in the sectors of agriculture, information and communication industry, human resources development, mutual investment and development of the Mekong River Basin.
State leaders, ministers and other high-ranking officials from 10 ASEAN countries, China, Japan and South Korea meet annually to discuss cooperation and major international and regional issues.
Apart from the above-mentioned three countries, ASEAN has also carried out 10+1 dialogues with some countries outside the region on a periodic basis.
Established in 1967, ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
