NUSA DUA. Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono officiated the ASEAN Summit at Nusa Dua, Bali on Thursday at 9 a.m. local time.

"Peaceful greetings and prosperity," President Susilo Yudhoyono said, speaking in Indonesian.

Earlier, the President had highlighted the need for solidarity among ASEAN countries to settle problems in the region using peaceful negotiations.

Indonesia is the chair of ASEAN this year. The ASEAN Summit and the ensuing gathering of the ASEAN Dialogue Partners will be held from Nov. 17-19, 2011, in Bali.

Indonesia has played host to ASEAN Summits three times: in 1976, 2003 and 2011

Editor: Edy Can