Leaders of the Association of the Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) gathered in Bangkok on Tuesday for a special meeting on ways of fighting the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).

The leaders are expected to discuss and agree to a joint plan to strengthen the defense of their countries against SARS, an epidemic that has affected many countries.

ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and The Philippines.

The World Health Organization (WHO) said on Monday that Vietnam has successfully contained SARS.

"Vietnam has stopped the outbreak within its borders," said Dr. Pascale Brudon, WHO Representative to Vietnam. "WHO would like to congratulate Vietnam on being the first country in the world to contain SARS."

Following the meeting, ASEAN leaders will be joined by Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao in the afternoon to discuss ways to strengthen regional cooperation in dealing with SARS.

Wen arrived here earlier in the day to attend the China-ASEAN leaders' special meeting on SARS at the invitation of Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

(Xinhua News Agency April 29, 2003)