The Granma daily newspaper, the official organ of the Communist Party of Cuba, ran an article on November 14 stressing that the ASEAN Summit, expected to take place in Hanoi in April 2010, will mark a new milestone in Southeast Asia ’s integration process as well as the East Asian region in general.

Entitled “Pasos hacia la integracion economica” (The progression to economic integration) illustrated with a photo of Vietnam’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem launching the logo and website of the National Committee on ASEAN, the article wrote that the Hanoi forum will focus on economic cooperation, preventing natural disasters, climate change and issues relating to the plan to create an ASEAN Community by 2015.

After giving the history of ASEAN since it was established in 1967, the article concentrated on the bloc’s development after the admission of more countries in a spirit of “unity in diversity” as well as the expansion of its ties with partners such as China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Australia, New Zealand and India.

According to Granma, together with the 2010 ASEAN Summit, the East Asia Forum, also being held in Hanoi will look towards establishing a joint community for the whole region – the East Asia Community./.