L-R: Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Laotian Prime Minister Bouasone Bouphavanh, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, Philippine President Gloria Arroyo, Singaporen Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Thai Prime Minsister Abhisit Vejjajiva, Vietnam Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, Myanmar Prime Minister Thein Sein, Sultan of Brunei Hassanal Bolkiah, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and ASEAN Secretary General Surin Pitsuwan join hands during the closing ceremony of the 15th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit, at the elite beach resort of Hua Hin, southern Thailand on October 25, 2009. Dreams of creating a huge economic bloc covering half the world's population are slowly becoming a reality in a plan that would boost Asia's global clout, analysts and officials say. Getty Images logo Getty Images 1 month ago

L-R: Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Laotian Prime Minister Bouasone Bouphavanh, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, Philippine President Gloria Arroyo, Singaporen Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Thai Prime Minsister Abhisit Vejjajiva, Vietnam Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, Myanmar Prime Minister Thein Sein, Sultan of Brunei Hassanal Bolkiah, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and ASEAN Secretary General Surin Pitsuwan join hands during the closing ceremony of the 15th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit, at the elite beach resort of Hua Hin, southern Thailand on October 25, 2009. Dreams of creating a huge economic bloc covering half the world's population are slowly becoming a reality in a plan that would boost Asia's global clout, analysts and officials say.

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  1. Myanmar's Prime Minister General Thein Sein examines packs of narcotic drugs during a ceremony to destroy narcotic drugs Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2009, in Kyaing Tong, in eastern Shan State of Myanmar. Authorities in eastern Myanmar on Tuesday destroyed more than $93 million worth of methamphetamine tablets and other illicit drugs seized over the last six months.
  2. Members of the ASAEN 10 link hands for a group photo, from left to right, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, Myanmar's Prime Minister Gen. Thein Sein, Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, U.S. President Barack Obama, Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, Sultan of Brunei Hassanal Bolkiah, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Laotian Prime Minister Bouasone Bouphvanh, in Singapore, Sunday, Nov. 15, 2009.
  3. (L/R) Myanmar's Prime Minister General Thein Sein, Philippines President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong .shake hands during the group photograph at the ASEAN-US leaders meeting in Singapore on November 15, 2009, on the sidelines of The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit. US President Barack Obama held an unprecedented group summit with Southeast Asian leaders, including the prime minister of regional pariah Myanmar. Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong told Obama and his colleagues from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations that he wanted 'to welcome all of you to the first ASEAN-US leaders' meeting'.
  4. Myanmar's Prime Minister General Thein Sein (R) takes part in the ASEAN-US leaders meeting at a hotel in Singapore November 15, 2009, on the sidelines of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit. US President Barack Obama held an unprecedented group summit with Southeast Asian leaders, including the prime minister of regional pariah Myanmar. Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong told Obama and his colleagues from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations that he wanted 'to welcome all of you to the first ASEAN-US leaders' meeting'.
  5. Members of the ASEAN 10 stand for a group photo, from left to right, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, Myanmar's Prime Minister Gen. Thein Sein, Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, U.S. President Barack Obama, Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, Sultan of Brunei Hassanal Bolkiah, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Laotian Prime Minister Bouasone Bouphvanh, in Singapore, Sunday, Nov. 15, 2009.
  6. U.S. President Barack Obama (C) waits as ASEAN Leaders take their place for a family photo before their ASEAN-US meeting in Singapore November 15, 2009. Pictured (L-R) are: Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke, Myanmar's Prime Minister Thein Sein and Thailand's Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.
  7. Cambodian Pime Minister Hun Sen and Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong (L) at the 15th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) meeting in Cha-am, Thailand October 24, 2009. In a slap in the face to Thailand's rulers, Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun offered fugitive former Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra a job as economic adviser. Thaksin, ousted in a 2006 coup, heavily influences a red-shirted, anti-government protest movement from self-imposed exile in Dubai. Thailand is seeking to extradite him to serve a jail term for corruption.
  8. Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen (L) is pictured with fugitive former Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra during a meeting at his house in Phnom Penh December 14, 2009. Thaksin returned to Cambodia on Sunday, a month after a visit that sparked a diplomatic row when the Cambodian government refused Bangkok's request to extradite him.
  9. Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen (L) hugs fugitive former Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra during a meeting at his house in Phnom Penh December 14, 2009. Thaksin returned to Cambodia on Sunday, a month after a visit that sparked a diplomatic row when the Cambodian government refused Bangkok's request to extradite him.
  10. Siwarak Chothipong, front left, a former Thai airline employee convicted of spying on Thaksin Shinawatra, walks with his mother Simarak Na Nakhon Panom, front right, out of Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen's residence in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Monday, Dec. 14, 2009. The Thai man pardoned for spying has been released to the custody of his mother and Thai opposition politicians and will fly home Monday.
  11. Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen (L) hugs fugitive former Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra during a meeting at his house in Phnom Penh December 14, 2009. Thaksin returned to Cambodia on Sunday, a month after a visit that sparked a diplomatic row when the Cambodian government refused Bangkok's request to extradite him.
  12. Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen (L) hugs fugitive former Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra during a meeting at his house in Phnom Penh December 14, 2009. Thaksin returned to Cambodia on Sunday, a month after a visit that sparked a diplomatic row when the Cambodian government refused Bangkok's request to extradite him.
  13. President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (C) leaves after the swearing-in ceremony at House of Representative building in Jakarta on October 20, 2009. Liberal ex-general Yudhoyono was sworn in as Indonesia's president after winning a second five-year term with promises of economic growth and political reform.
  14. President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (C) gestures as he delivers a speech after the swearing-in ceremony at House of Representative building in Jakarta on October 20, 2009. Liberal ex-general Yudhoyono was sworn in as Indonesia's president after winning a second five-year term with promises of economic growth and political reform.
  15. President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (C) gestures as he delivers a speech after the swearing-in ceremony at House of Representative building in Jakarta on October 20, 2009. Liberal ex-general Yudhoyono was sworn in as Indonesia's president after winning a second five-year term with promises of economic growth and political reform.
  16. Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (R) inspects troops during a ceremony marking the country's 64th military anniversary at its headquarters in Cilangkap, on the outskirts of Jakarta October 5, 2009.

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  1. Sompong Saombankuay of Thailand competes in the men's pole vault finals to win the silver medal at the 25th Southeast Asian Games in Vientiane, Laos, Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2009.
  2. Kreeta Sintawacheewa of Thailand competes in the men's pole vault finals to win the gold medal at the 25th Southeast Asian Games in Vientiane, Laos, Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2009.
  3. File picture shows German Chancellor Angela Merkel as she frowns after her speech at a Christian Democratic Union (CDU) election campaign rally at the traditional Keferloh festival in Grasbrunn September 7, 2009. Merkel heads into 2010 facing one of the toughest political challenges - drumming up support for an unpopular war that has become the focus of attacks against her administration. Picture taken September 7, 2009.
  4. Britain's Prince William wipes his mouth after eating a piece of a birthday cake during a visit to the charity Centrepoint, on their 40th anniversary, at one of their centres in central London December 16, 2009. Centrepoint is a charity that provides housing and support to improve the lives of homeless people between the ages of 16 and 25.
  5. Britain's Prince William pats his stomach after eating a piece of a birthday cake during a visit to the charity Centrepoint, on the their 40th anniversary, at one of their centres in central London December 16, 2009. Centrepoint is a charity that provides housing and support to improve the lives of homeless people between the ages of 16 and 25.
  6. BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - DECEMBER 16: Sergio Van Dijk of the Roar is challenged by Matthew Smith of the Fury during the round 19 A-League match between the Brisbane Roar and the North Queensland Fury at Suncorp Stadium on December 16, 2009 in Brisbane, Australia.
  7. BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - DECEMBER 16: Sergio Van Dijk of the Roar is challenged by Matthew Smith of the Fury during the round 19 A-League match between the Brisbane Roar and the North Queensland Fury at Suncorp Stadium on December 16, 2009 in Brisbane, Australia.
  8. South Korean Army soldiers take part in an annual river-crossing exercise on the Han river in Yeoju, about 100 km (62 miles) southeast of Seoul December 16, 2009. The aim of the exercise is to prepare soldiers for a possible invasion by North Korea.
  9. A South Korean armored vehicle moves after crossing the Nam Han River during an annual winter military exercise against a possible attack from North Korea at Yeoju, South Korea, Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2009. North Korea demanded to a senior U.S. envoy that U.N. sanctions imposed on the communist regime for its nuclear defiance be lifted, a report said Wednesday.
  10. England's bowler Graham Onion, left, celebrates after dismissing South Africa's batsman Hashim Amla, right, for 19 runs on the first day of the first Test cricket match at the Supersport Park in Centurion, South Africa, Wednesday Dec. 16, 2009.
  11. England's bowler Graham Onion, left, celebrates after dismissing South Africa's batsman Hashim Amla, right, for 19 runs on the first day of the first Test cricket match at the Supersport Park in Centurion, South Africa, Wednesday Dec. 16, 2009.
  12. England's bowler Graham Onion celebrates after dismissing South Africa's batsman Hashim Amla, unseen, for 19 runs on the first day of the first Test cricket match at the Supersport Park in Centurion, South Africa, Wednesday Dec. 16, 2009.
  13. BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - DECEMBER 16: Chris Tadrosse of the Fury is pressured by the defence of Tommy Oar of the Roar during the round 19 A-League match between the Brisbane Roar and the North Queensland Fury at Suncorp Stadium on December 16, 2009 in Brisbane, Australia.
  14. CENTURION, SOUTH AFRICA - DECEMBER 16: Graham Onions of England appeals for a wicket during day one of the first test match between South Africa and England at Centurion Park on December 16, 2009 in Centurion, South Africa.
  15. BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - DECEMBER 16: Henrique of the Roar is challenged by Chris Tadrosse of the Fury during the round 19 A-League match between the Brisbane Roar and the North Queensland Fury at Suncorp Stadium on December 16, 2009 in Brisbane, Australia.
  16. BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - DECEMBER 16: Sergio Van Dijk of the Roar and Matthew Smith of the Fury challenge for the ball during the round 19 A-League match between the Brisbane Roar and the North Queensland Fury at Suncorp Stadium on December 16, 2009 in Brisbane, Australia.