English Transcript

Cập nhật 23/07/2008 15:35:00

Foreign ministers from the Association of South East Asian Nations have met their counterparts from China, Japan, South Korea, India, Australia and New Zealand to discuss regional security issues, including food security for the region.

Singapore foreign ministry spokesman Andrew Tan says there is a need to avoid situations of export curbs on rice.

He says although East Asia established an emergency rice mechanism in 2002 that needs to be improved in the wake of soaring rice prices.

Indonesia the world's top rice importer, has called on the United Nations to organise a high level meeting on food security, and Jakarta is also proposing an ASEAN food summit.

Philippines says Asean produces enough rice but there is a need for greater efficiency in distribution.

ASEAN's secretary general says Thailand is ready to assume the chair of the Association.

Thailand is to take over the rotating chair of the 10-nation regional bloc on Friday from Singapore after the group's foreign ministers conclude a series of annual meetings in the city-state.