ASEAN forum endorses disaster relief exercise
Updated
Asia's top security forum has endorsed an American proposal for a region-wide disaster relief exercise.
Disaster preparedness has risen high on the regional agenda after Cyclone Nargis struck Burma and an earthquake in south-west China together left more than 200,000 people dead or missing in May.
Officials at the meeting in Singapore say the Philippines is likely to be the venue for the exercise, which could begin next year.
The 27-member ASEAN Regional Forum includes all 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations as well as the European Union, United States, China and other nations, including Australia.
