The Association of Southeast Asian Nations has much to crow about as it marks its 50th anniversary: economic and social progress, a manufacturing powerhouse and relative political stability.
Japan has called on the ASEAN member states to counter protectionism policies in some parts of the world by promoting free trade in the region.
This regional bloc has come a long way since its foundation in 1967, weathering economic and security storms and challenges. Currently, Asean is being looked upon as one of the most successful regionalism models and it is taking a centre stage in shaping the agenda for peace and prosperity in the region and beyond. Asean shows how integration becomes plausible despite differences in background, culture and stages of development.
MINISTERS from Asean countries and India plan to work together to resolve key issues related to a proposed regional free-trade pact when they meet next month in Manila, Commerce Minister Apiradi Tantraporn said yesterday.
THE Chairman’s Statement during the last Asean Summit (April 2017) drew a bright picture of future Asean economic growth prospects. “Asean’s combined GDP stood at $2.55 trillion in the first half of 2016, with a robust year-on-year real GDP growth rate of 4.7 percent despite the challenging global environment
AMERICA, undeniably, is the most popular nation with Filipinos than any sovereign state we interact with in this world. This Filipino mindset started in 1898 when, for $20 million, the US replaced Spain as our colonial master under the 1898 Treaty of Paris. This is easy to understand because the Spaniards oppressed us socially, culturally, economically and politically for almost 400 years.
ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) has come quite a distance since its inception in 1967. Today, it stands as one of the world’s oldest regional organizations. From five founding members, it has expanded to 10 member-states, each with its own culture, languages, history, and form of government. To many people, ASEAN is almost defined by its diversity -- a diversity that both contextualizes its successes and underpins its challenges in carving out a stronger sense of shared identity.
The free trade agreement between Asean and Hong Kong will be signed at the 31st Asean Summit in November in the Philippines, according to Thailand's Department of Trade Negotiations.
<p>Time: November 2025<br /> By: WTO and International Trade Group, Legal Department – VCCI</p>
