Xinhua Asia-Pacific news summary at 1600 GMT, April 1

BANGKOK -- ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn has urged more dialogue and consultations in addressing challenges in a speech delivered during his first working visit to Thailand from Wednesday to Saturday.

As part of the efforts to ease the tension in the region, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is actively promoting the Treaty on the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon Free Zone, he said. (Thaila