The 15th ASEAN summit kicked off in Thailand yesterday amid heavy security. For those in the know, the April summit could not be held because of heavy anti-government protests.
The ten ASEAN countries have decided to establish a human rights watchdog, considered by observers as weak and ineffective, as it lacks powers to punish offenders (BBC News). The [...]

The second trilateral summit between China, South Korea and Japan ended this Saturday in Beijing with a commitment by prime minister Wen Jiabao, Japanese premier Hatoyama and South Korean president Lee to further strengthen ties between the three countries and to push together for the de-nuclearization of the Korean peninsula.
During the summit premier Hatoyama outlined his [...]

North Korea has recently announced that the country’s recovering leader Kim Jong-Il, is willing to come back to the negotiating table, provided the six-party talks (Russia, China, USA, Japan, North and South Korea) are complemented by direct talks between North Korea and the US. So, what determined Kim Jong-Il to soften his stance ?
The election results [...]

The plans for creating an Asian economic community grouping China, ASEAN and Japan have received an important boost recently. During his informal meeting in New York with Chinese president Hu Jintao, the new Japanese premier Mr. Hatoyama has proposed the creation of an East-Asian community which would emulate the model of the European Union. Closer ties between Japan and China should eventually create [...]

Overshadowed by increased military  tension in the Korean peninsula, the 17th EU-ASEAN Summit held in Phnom Penh last week has nevertheless achieved a few notable successes.
Before the start of the meeting, Ms Benita Ferrero-Waldner had expressed the view that : “the EU and ASEAN are two successful examples of regional integration in the world” (Phnom [...]

The current economic tsunami has accelerated integration moves between ASEAN countries, China and other regional powerhouses. The planned launch of Asia’s and the world’s largest trade bloc has prompted me to ask Professor Bruce McKern, a renowned International Management expert, for an interview concerning its prospects in emulating the European Union’s economic integration experience. Professor [...]

The ASEAN countries’ annual summit meeting starts today in Thailand amid calls for more economic integration between its members. Its main objective is the creation of a common market in the region by 2015.
 
The urgency of finalising agreements leading to the creation of a common market in Southeast Asia is understandable. The economic crisis sweeping [...]

While fears of protectionism are sweeping the EU and the US, China is preparing the launch, in 2010, of a regional trade bloc which will extend the benefits of free trade to the ASEAN countries (Brunei, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar and Laos). The move will create the world´s largest trade bloc, covering [...]