The network, formed by leading newspapers from 14 countries in Asia, cooperates in daily sharing of news, exchanges of journalists, publication of a weekly newsmagazine and a host of other media activities.

The Kathmandu Post is part of the Kantipur multimedia group, which brings together Kantipur Times, a Nepali daily, Kantipur Radio and Kantipur TV.

Prateek Pradhan, editor of The Kathmandu Post, recently said his organisation was looking forward to interacting with its counterparts across the region.

"We wish to become an active member of the network, taking advantage of the available news reports, pictures and articles, and contributing our resources for others' benefit," he said.

Ravindra Kumar, a board member of ANN and editor of The Statesman of India, travelled to Nepal with Konrad Adenauer's Media Project chief representative Werner vom Busch to meet up with Pradhan.

Kumar said, "The presence of a member newspaper in Nepal will enhance ANN's footprint in Southeast Asia, one of the most vibrant regions of the world."

The ANN members are China Daily, Daily Yomiuri and Yomiuri Shimbun of Japan, The Island of Sri Lanka, Korea Herald, The Straits Times of Singapore, The Nation of Thailand, The Statesman, Viet Nam News, The Daily Star of Bangladesh, Philippine Daily Inquirer, The Jakarta Post of Indonesia, Sin Chew Daily and The Star of Malaysia, and Vientiane Times of Laos.