Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak said he was optimistic that Asean will continue to develop meaningful and constructive relations with both China and India.

Indonesia on Saturday called on fellow Southeast Asian states to "give serious attention" to soaring food and energy prices, warning inflation could drive more people into poverty.

Asean tourism ministers have agreed to adopt an Asean Tourism Strategic Plan (ATSP) 2011-2015 to serve as reference for national tourism organisations in carrying out tourism programs in the Southeast Asian region.

A code of conduct is urgently needed between Beijing and Southeast Asian nations to prevent conflict in the South China Sea, Indonesia said on Monday.

Indonesia has said it will promote a people-centred Asean during its chairmanship of the regional association in 2011.

"People-centred Asean is key to making the association relevant to the public and to the attainment of the objectives of the Asean Community," said Indonesia's permanent representative to Asean, ambassador I Gede Ngurah, on Thursday at the first official meeting chaired by Indonesia after assuming the Association of Southeast Asian nations chair early in 2011.

Oct 30: Nationals from Cambodia, Vietnam, the Philippines and Laos would be given visa on arrival from Jan 1, 2011, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh announced here Saturday.

Addressing the 8th In

The relationship that the United States is trying to build up with Asian countries and those in Asean region is crucial for its national security interest, a top American official has said.