15 leaders to attend Asean summit

Fifteen leaders have officially confirmed participation in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the East Asia summits in Cebu that had been moved to Jan. 10 to 15, ASEAN National Organizing Committee secretary-general Marciano Paynor said yesterday.

Only India has yet to confirm, but Paynor said there were no indications that its prime minister would have any problem attending the summits.

"This is good news," Paynor said over the phone. "All these 15 leaders who were supposed to come to Cebu last week will be there in January."

Paynor said the Philippines was grateful that the participating countries understood the need to postpone the summits originally slated for Dec. 10 to 14 due to a typhoon.

The NOC has asked the media and the public to stop speculations that the events were postponed due to terrorist threats or political turbulence in the country triggered by the differing opinions on Charter change.

Leaders will be meeting on Jan. 13 to 15. The ASEAN summit will be attended by the 10 heads of state and government while the East Asia summit will be composed of the ASEAN leaders plus its dialogue partners China, Japan, Korea, Australia, New Zealand and India.

The ministerial meetings will be held on Jan. 11 to 12 while the senior officials will meet on Jan. 10.

The leaders of ASEAN Plus Three — China, Japan and Korea — will also meet separately.

China has informed the Philippines that its prime minister may push through with his official visit to Manila after the summits in Cebu. — Aurea Calica