Foreign, finance and economic ministers from Southeast Asian countries held their first-ever joint meeting in Manila November 26 on ways to intensify their coordination in ensuring the region's recovery.

High on the agenda of the joint ministerial meeting of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) are ASEAN's economic resurgence and competitiveness, and social safety nets for the poor, Philippine Finance Secretary Edgardo Espiritu told reporters.

Local officials regard the holding of the joint ministerial meeting as a good way to help resolve economic issues.

"There are a number of interrelated issues that need to be resolved among ourselves, particularly in the area of setting up a new finance architecture in reaction to the Asian crisis," Espiritu said.

ASEAN Secretary General Rodolfo Severino also said the joint meeting provides "an opportunity for three important sectoral ministers to intensify their coordination and synergy to ensure the region's economic recovery and sustained growth."

ASEAN, founded in 1967, groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

The joint ministerial gathering is one of the preparatory meetings leading to the third ASEAN informal summit on Sunday which is expected to be dominated by discussions on issues of economic reforms, consensus building and cooperation in the region. (Xinhua)