SINGAPORE, May 24 (Bernama) -- Malaysia's Information Communication and Culture Minister Dr Rais Yatim today attended the 5th Meeting of Asean Ministers Responsible for Culture and Arts (AMCA), here.

The two-day meeting, which was attended by all Asean member countries, was officially opened by Singapore's Information, Communications and the Arts Minister, Dr Yaacob Ibrahim.

The meeting, held for the first time in the island republic, aims to promote arts and culture, preserve cultural heritage and develop arts as well as cultural industries in the Asean region.

The previous meeting was held in the Philippines, while Vietnam is slated to host the next meeting in 2014.

The Asean Ministers will also be meeting with their counterparts from China, Japan and Republic of Korea for the AMCA 3 and AMCA China meetings.

In conjunction with AMCA, Singapore will be staging the Asean Festival of the Arts featuring performances from all 10 Asean member countries at the Gallery Theatre, National Museum of Singapore tomorrow.

-- BERNAMA