Southeast Asian leaders met in Laos on Wednesday for a summit expected to seek ways address the worsening civil war in Myanmar, with Thailand calling for heightened engagement ahead of a planned election by the country's embattled military rulers.

Southeast Asian leaders will hold summit talks Thursday with Chinese Premier Li Qiang, with the disputed South China Sea on the agenda after months of escalating clashes between Beijing's vessels

ASEAN leaders meet in Laos to address Myanmar's civil war, with Thailand pushing for dialogue and a peaceful resolution.