Cambodian PM: ASEAN meeting in Thailand should be delayed

Hun Sen talks to reporters.

PHNOM PENH, Jan. 8 (Xinhua) -- The ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) meeting scheduled to be held in Thailand late January should be delayed to later in 2009, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said here on Thursday.

"We want the ASEAN meeting, the ASEAN plus three (China, South Korea and Japan) meeting and ASEAN plus other partners meeting to be held at the same time in order to not waste time and money. We do not need to separate such meetings," Hun Sen said at a press conference at the National Assembly.

Thailand plans to hold the ASEAN meeting in late January and the ASEAN plus other partners meeting in April.

"I could not go to Thailand two or three times in a year. For I have my own work to do too," Hun Sen added.

He also appealed other ASEAN members to consider the ASEAN meeting plus other partners.

"It is a very important meeting in which we will implement the Chiang Mai Initiative for releasing capital to solve the financial crisis," he said.

Editor: Xiong