KUALA LUMPUR - Burma agreed yesterday to an Asean proposal to send a mission led by Malaysian Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar to Rangoon to get a first-hand look at the political situation there.

Chairman’s statement

Asean leaders have issued a chairman’s statement at the end of their first day of the summit in Kuala Lumpur. The following is the gist of the statement:

Boost efforts on security, PM says

KUALA LUMPUR - Asean should strengthen cooperation on security and the bird-flu threat by exchanging information and expertise, Premier Thaksin Shinawatra told his counterparts on the first day of the Asean summit yesterday. Asean should also try to attract more foreign investment to the region to help boost development in areas such as infrastructure, transport networks and public health, Thaksin said.