By Mikhail Flores and Michael MartinaMANILA, July 23 (Reuters) - Top diplomats from Asia, Europe and North America met on Thursday for the security-focused ASEAN Regional Forum, where ministers were expected to call for a peaceful settlement of renewed and intensifying hostilities in the Middle East.

The meeting will focus on key challenges including energy and food security, the ongoing crisis in Myanmar and South China Sea tensions.

Indonesia will use this week's ASEAN foreign ministers' meetings in Manila to push for a more resilient, forward-looking and strategically independent regional bloc, arguing that…

US’ Rubio, China’s Wang to join, bilateral meeting anticipated; Myanmar civil war, South China Sea code remain tests for ASEAN