Even as the stage is set for the first East Asian Summit, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, there is apprehension that it would be nothing more than just 'talk shop'.
The Association of South East Asian Nations has already ensured that EAS will function under the umbrella of Aean+3.
The summit brings the world's two most populous nations, China and India, together with Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand, and the 10 Asean nations (Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam).
Malaysia will host leaders from 16 countries. Apart from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, China's Premier Wen Jiabao, Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, Republic of Korea President Roh Moo-Hyun, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Australian Prime Minister John Howard and New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark are attending the meet.
Leaders from the ASEAN nations are: Brunei's Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah Muizzaddin Waddaulah, Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Hun Sen, Indonesian President Dr H. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Lao People's Democratic Republic Prime Minister Boun-nhang Vorachith, Myanmar Prime Minister General Soe Win, Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and Vietnamese Prime Minister Phan Van Khai.
While no major outcome is expected of the meet, EAS is seen as a counter to the hegemony of the European Union and the US.
It would however, not replace Asean+3 or the Asia-Pacific Economic Corporation.
It was decided that EAS would be held annually and back-to-back with the Asean Summit.
Dr Singh will also hold bilateral talks with Wen Jiabao and the prime ministers of China (Wen Jiabao) and Myanmar (General Soe Win).
Also Read:
PM in Malaysia
