东南亚国家领导人星期四在越南开始3天的会议。经济一体化和缅甸即将举行的选举成为他们讨论的最紧迫问题。东盟10个成员国的政府首脑也希望推动更多的区域合作，解决东盟很多国家由于货币大幅升值而使其出口产品减少竞争力的问题。东盟秘书长素林在河内会议之前表示，东盟国家必须增加相互之间的投资。东盟已经制定目标，在2015年前建立一个类似欧盟的共同体。
预计东盟领导人还会对缅甸11月7日举行的选举表达关注。执政的缅甸军政府排挤反对党，并且禁止外国选举观察员和记者前往缅甸。东盟领导人还将会晤联合国秘书长潘基文，潘基文对缅甸局势感到失望。
Southeast Asian leaders launched three days of meetings Thursday in Vietnam, with economic integration and Burma’s upcoming elections among the most pressing issues being discussed.Heads of state from the 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, also hope to push for more regional cooperation to address concerns that many of their currencies have strengthened significantly, thus making their exports less competitive. Surin Pitsuan, secretary general of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, said before the meetings in Hanoi that ASEAN nations must invest more in each other’s countries. The bloc has set a goal of establishing a European Union-type community by 2015.
The leaders are also expected to voice concerns about the November 7 election in Burma, where the ruling junta has sidelined opposition parties and barred outside observers and journalists.ASEAN leaders will also meet with U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, who has expressed his own frustrations with Burma.