The Asia News Network, an alliance of 20 newspapers in 17 Asian countries including Sri Lanka, celebrated its 10th anniversary in Bangkok on Friday.

The network comprises The Island Newspaper (Sri Lanka), Daily Star (Bangladesh), Rasmei Kampuchea (Cambodia), China Daily, China Post, The Statesman (India), Jakarta Post (Indonesia), Yomiuri Shimbun and Daily Yomiuri (Japan), Korea Herald, Vientiane Times (Laos), The Star and Sin Chiew Daily (Malaysia), Kathmandu Post (Nepal), The Nation (Thailand), Philippine Daily Inquirer, Straits Times (Singapore), The Nation (Pakistan), Brunei Times, and Vietnam News.

The ANN’s  annual board meeting was also held and Bhutan’s "Kuensel" newspaper was admitted as the 21st member, Managing Director of Thailand’s Nation Newspaper, Kun Pana said.

The Prime Minister of Thailand Abhisit Vejjajiva joined the celebration and also delivered the keynote address on "Thailand and Asia." A book on ANN was launched followed by a panel discussion on ‘Asia Media:What’s Next’. The participants included 40 ANN editors and publishers, the Deputy Secretary General of Konrad Adenauer Stiftung Dr Gerhard Wahlers, diplomats and business leaders. The Govenor of Bangkok, Sukhumbhand Paribatra, who as the Thai Deputy Foreign Minister ten years ago, witnessed the creation of ANN with Bangkok as its headquarters, also attended.

 Chairman of ANN, Isagani Yambot who is also the publisher of Philippine Daily Inquirer, said that they are happy to be back in Bangkok where ANN was founded. "We have come a long way and the network is now considered the most active of its kind in the world and a prime example of successful intra Asian cooperation."