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	The event will be held at the Sunnylands estate in Rancho Mirage, California from February 14-18 on the invitation of US President Barack Obama.&nbsp;</div>
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	The president visited Kuala Lumpur in November and called for the summit to held in a bid to push economic partnerships, form new security collaborations and confront key international challenges.&nbsp;</div>
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	Sek said the invitation showed that in the eyes of the US, Thailand still played an important role in the US-Asean collaboration and saw the Kingdom as the hub of the region, which could lead to more key cooperation.&nbsp;</div>
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	The summit follows the official launch of the Asean Economic Community on December 31.</div>
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	Sek said the meeting aimed to enhance relationships and advance strategic partnerships among attending countries.&nbsp;</div>
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	He said the prime minister would focus on economic partnerships, sustainable development, and security collaboration including for international issues at the summit.</div>

Prayut to attend inaugural US-Asean summit

PRIME MINISTER General Prayut Chan-o-cha will attend the inaugural US-Asean summit in the United States this month, Foreign Ministry spokesman Sek Wannamethee said yesterday.