John Key

By Ian Llewellyn of NZPA

Hua Hin, Thailand, Oct 24 NZPA - Prime Minister John Key will finally get a taste of Thailand tonight as he enjoys a gala dinner before tomorrow's East Asia Summit.

The Thai government has gone all out in it attempts to impress visiting dignitaries after having to cancel the last two summits due to protests over internal politics.

Mr Key was due to land to Bangkok last night and make his way to the seaside resort of Hua Hin this morning where a heavy military presence and draconian security laws have managed to keep any signs of protest well away from the summit.

Mr Key is to hold meetings with Chinese Premier Wen Jia Bao, Thailand Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and other regional leaders today before going to a gala dinner with a distinct Thai flavour.

Starters include khanon jeeb (steamed rice flour filled with ground fish and ikura caviar), and pomelo salad, while the soup is tom yum or traditional Thai soup with river prawn.

Among the mains is hor mok (steamed Phuket lobster) with curried mousse wrapped in banana leaves and ruam mitr -- sweet dumpling with jackfruit in iced coconut syrup.

Whether or not the food is to his taste or not, Mr Key will tomorrow attend the East Asia Summit which includes the 10 members of Asean (Association of Southeast Asian) plus, China, Korea, India, Japan, Australia and New Zealand.

On top of the agenda is trade liberalisation, but climate change is also set to play a major part with Asean calling for the developed world to do more before developing nations are asked to contribute.

Yesterday Asean leaders met for their own summit where they discussed food security after recent years saw much suffering due to sharp increases in the price of rice.

The most controversial issue locally has been Asean leaders agreeing to set up the Asean Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights.

It has been widely attacked by human rights activists as being a toothless sop in a region which often struggles with such issues, most notably Myanmar which has severely repressed all dissent against its ruling military junta for decades.

Prime Minister Abhisit said the commission generated a "momentum" to promote and protect human rights in the region, but also increased the "comfort level" of all Asean member states to be able to accept a more enhanced role of this body in the future.

After attending the summit on the weekend, Mr Key travels to Malaysia for the signing of a trade deal with that country and then on to Japan for talks with the new government there and a series of business and tourism promotions.

He returns to New Zealand on November 2 after attending the Bledisloe Cup match with Australia, which is being played in Tokyo.

(Ian Llewellyn travelled to the East Asia Summit with the assistance of the Asia New Zealand Foundation)