Thai Parliament is hosting an international meeting of parliamentarians from 10 ASEAN member states, which mainly focus on the region's natural disasters response and preparation for the building of an ASEAN Community by 2015.

The ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) Caucus is ongoing at a hotel in Bangkok from April 30 to May 3.

The Senate Speaker, Gen Teeradej Meepien, said the meeting helps strengthen relationships among ASEAN members and expand cooperation with other regions as well.

According to Gen Teeradej, the main topics at this year's meeting include the update on the implementation of AIPA, presentation on each country's disaster management program and draft laws on disaster management.

The opposition leader Abhisit Vejjajiva has been appointed AIPA Chairman this year.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) formed in 1967 consists of 10 Southeast Asian nations -- Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines and Vietnam with an aim to promote political and economic cooperation and regional integration.

The establishment of AIPA was at the initiative of Indonesia in early 1970s to boost parliamentary cooperation among ASEAN parliaments.

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