Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has suggested that the ASEAN grouping should commit to stronger, more-targeted investment in rural development and poverty alleviation.

He also suggested ASEAN nations focus their investment on rural and agricultural areas and assist vulnerable people, devise rural development action programs and a social welfare network within ASEAN, according to the Vietnam News Agency.

Dung added the group also needs to expand its relations with regional and Northeastern Asian countries to mobilize more resources for development and bridge the gap between members.

The PM said Vietnam was committed to investing in regional cooperation in national development and poverty reduction.

At the “A United ASEAN to Deal with Poverty in the Global Financial Crisis Context” meeting, the ministers made in-principle agreements to develop rural volunteer youths in ASEAN and exchange village leaders in ASEAN+ 3 (including Japan, China and the Republic of Korea).

The 27^th ASEAN Senior Transport Officials Meeting (STOM) also opened in the central city of Da Nang Wednesday.

Reported by Quang Duan-Huu Tra