Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra on Monday dismissed reports on the possible change of the venue for the special ASEAN (the Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Summit on the severe acute respiratory syndromes (SARS) to be held here on Tuesday.

"It is just a pure rumor. Don't pay too much attention to it. It is groundless and complete nonsense", a report from Thai News Agency quoted the prime minister as saying.

Thaksin said he would take the opportunity to hold bilateral talks with his Chinese counterpart Wen Jiabao during the summit.

Main issues to be discussed include the follow-up of progress in the Asian Cooperation Dialogue, the Asian Bond Scheme, and the agreed Sino-Thai Free Trade Area Agreement, as well as bilateral cooperation in drugs suppression and the prospect of Asian economies.

As well, the prime ministers will hold a comprehensive discussion on ways to contain the SARS outbreak and restore people's confidence.

Thai Public Health Minister Sudarat Keyuraphan disclosed that the special summit would begin with the assessment of the epidemic situation in the region and the progress in containing the disease by a representative of the World Health Organization.

(Xinhua News Agency April 29, 2003)