HANOI - The 36th ASEAN Railway CEO's Conference opened in Vietnam's capital Hanoi on Tuesday, aiming to boost closer connectivity among ASEAN members.

The event, themed "Towards Closer ASEAN Connectivity," drew participation of 206 representatives and observers from railway sectors of seven ASEAN countries including Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam as well as from the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) and the International Union of Railways (UIC).

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Nguyen Ngoc Dong, Vietnamese deputy minister of transport affirmed role of railways in transportation and logistics network to promote economic growth and development in the ASEAN region, especially after the ASEAN economic community is established in 2015.

"The conference provides a great chance for regional railways to meet and discuss general development plans in order to tighten friendship and cooperation," the website of Vietnam Railways quoted Dong as saying.

The three-day 36th ASEAN Railway CEO's Conference is an annual activity that is hosted by railway sectors of ASEAN countries on the principle of rotation.

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