The 44^th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting has opened in Bali, Indonesia. Foreign ministers from ASEAN member countries are discussing the building of the ASEAN community and the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon Free Zone Treaty. High on agenda will also be the implementation of the Declaration of the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea, relations between ASEAN and its partners as well as other issues of mutual concern.

In related news, Indonesian Ambassador to ASEAN Gede Ngurah Swajaya said that Indonesia will be the first country to benefit from ASEAN Infrastructure Fund, which will be introduced next year. Swajaya said that ASEAN member states have agreed to begin using the 500-million-USD fund to build six projects per year in the region.