The Initiative for ASEAN Integration (IAI) Task Force, ambassadors and representatives from the ASEAN Dialogue Partners and External Parties have held their inaugural consultation meeting to deliberate on mobilizing resources for and contribution to the implementation of the IAI Work Plan II (2009-2015), a statement sent by the ASEAN Secretariat to Xinhua said on Thursday.

Initiated as a new format by current IAI Task Force Chair Vietnam, the meeting serves as a place to share information among IAI stakeholders to foster a better understanding of the available resources for Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Vietnam (CLMV) and determines the approaches to improve delivery of IAI activities.

Preceded by the 42nd IAI Task Force Meeting, the consultation that was held in ASEAN secretariat was a response to the growing interest in the IAI by the Dialogue Partners and External Parties.

The meeting also welcomed representatives from Australia, China, India, Japan, Republic of Korea, New Zealand, United States and the Japan International Cooperation Agency.

The Initiative for ASEAN Integration was launched at the ASEAN Summit in 2000 with the objectives of Narrowing the Development Gap and accelerating economic integration in the newer members of ASEAN which are Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam.