Southeast Asian foreign ministers are gathering for their first meeting this year under the regional bloc’s new chair, Malaysia, seeking a breakthrough over Myanmar’s drawn-out civil war and territorial disputes in the South China Sea.

Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan (second, right) held a bilateral meeting with Thailand's Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa during the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Retreat (AMM) at the Langkawi International Convention Centre (LICC) today.

Foreign Ministers Maris Sangiampongsa and Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan were asked if ASEAN would accept China’s offer to help member countries enhance enforcement efforts to combat online scams. Maris acknowledged that discussions were still at a preliminary stage.

From left to right, Thailand's Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa, Vietnam's Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son and Malaysia's Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan clap after a group photo session during the

LANGKAWI, Malaysia - Southeast Asian nations told Myanmar's military government on Sunday its plan to hold an election amid an escalating civil war should not be its priority, urging the junta to start dialogue and end hostilities immediately.