Abhisit to visit Asean Secretariat Saturday

Abhisit will be the third Thai prime minister to visit the Asean Secretariat, after Chuan Leekpai in April 1993 and Thaksin Shinawatra in January 2002.

Only a week ago, on 11 February 2009, Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya visited the Asean Secretariat and met Asean Directors-General at a breakfast meeting hosted by the Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr Surin Pitsuwan.

On Abhisit's visit to the Jakarta-based Asean Secretariat, Dr Surin said, "My staff and I are delighted and honoured to have the opportunity to welcome him to the nerve centre of ASEAN."

"Thailand is chairing Asean at this very challenging time, when the world is in the grip of a global financial crisis. I look forward to Thailand's strong chairmanship to guide ASEAN's response to this and other regional and global problems."

Prime Minister Abhisit will also deliver a special address to Jakarta's diplomatic community and members of the media during his visit to the Asean Secretariat.

Thailand is hosting the 14th Asean Summit from 27 February 2009 to 1 March 2009.