New York, USA, 26 September 2011

Dr. Surin received a courtesy call from Mr Joseph Y. Yun, US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs in New York. They exchanged views on preparations for the 6th East Asia Summit and 3rd ASEAN-US Leaders’ Meeting (AULM) to be held in November 2011 in Bali.

Mr Yun informed that the United States was finalising the appointment of its Eminent Persons for the ASEAN-US Eminent Permanent Groups (EPG), which has been tasked to develop concrete and practical recommendations for the elevation of the ASEAN-US’s enhanced partnership.

Dr Surin and Mr Yun also welcomed the significant progress in the consultations between ASEAN Member States and the Nuclear Weapon States (NWS) regarding the Protocol to the Treaty of Southeast Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone (SEANWFZ). They expressed the hope that both sides would soon resolve the remaining outstanding issues so that the NWS could sign the Protocol to the SEANWFZ as early as possible.