VIENTIANE, Laos (AP) — Southeast Asian leaders gathered in the capital of Laos on Wednesday for an annual regional forum that will focus on tackling the prolonged civil war in Myanmar and territorial tensions in the South China Sea, two key challenges that have long tested the bloc's credibility.

Southeast Asian leaders are meeting at an annual forum that will focus on the civil war in Myanmar and territorial tensions in the South China Sea, two challenges that have long tested the bloc's credibility.

VIENTIANE, Laos (Reuters) -Southeast Asian leaders met in Laos on Wednesday for a summit expected to seek ways address the worsening civil war in Myanmar, with Thailand calling for heightened engagement ahead of a planned election by the country's embattled military rulers.

Southeast Asian leaders met in Laos on Wednesday for a summit expected to find ways of tackling a worsening civil war in Myanmar, with Thailand set to propose a new path for a political solution after a regional peace effort made scant progress.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) leaders’ summit began in Vientiane, the capital of Laos, on Wednesday. In a short statement on X, the ASEAN Secretariat said the summit started with the opening ceremony which will be followed by a plenary session and a retreat session.

This week, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will travel to Vientiane, Laos, to attend the annual Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit. This visit comes at a crucial time, as the Indo-Pacific faces rising geopolitical challenges.

VIENTIANE: The 44th and 45th Asean Summit and Related Summits kicked off with the presence of top leaders from the 10 countries of the economic bloc in the Laotian capital on Wednesday (Oct 9). Read f

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will travel to Laos for the ASEAN and related leaders’ meetings, the State Department said Tuesday. Blinken will participate in the East Asia Summit and the US-ASEAN Summit in the Laos capital of Vientiane,

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. departed for Vientiane, Laos on Tuesday afternoon to attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit, where he is expected to highlight the country’s position on key regional and global issues,

Southeast Asian leaders gathered in the capital of Laos for an annual regional forum that will focus on tackling the prolonged civil war in Myanmar and territorial tensions in the South China Sea

Secretary of State Antony Blinken will represent the United States at the Association of Southeast Nations (ASEAN) summits in Laos this week and expects to discuss human rights in Myanmar, China's "irresponsible" behavior in the South China Sea and Ukraine,