As the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) marks its 50th anniversary this year, the biggest challenge for the regional group moving forward will be for it to stay united, said Singapore's Ambassador-at-Large Tommy Koh.
On the 50th anniversary of its founding today, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) can look back with optimism on its incremental record on regional integration.
On the 24th of July India hosted the 19th round of negotiations for the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), a free trade agreement covering 16 countries in the Asia-Pacific region. India’s commerce secretary has said that there is “enough political will to expedite the conclusion of the talks” but in reality many barriers, both economic and political, remain.
It really does not take too much of a sceptic to dismiss such questions out of hand. After all, unlike previous years, the largest economy in the group, the United States, has stopped being involved in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiation process – acting instead under the dictum of “America First”
Foreign ministers of 10 ASEAN countries and three partners – Japan, China and the Republic of Korea (RoK) – have agreed to enhance financial cooperation to strengthen economic stability in the region.
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.
<p>Time: November 2025<br /> By: WTO and International Trade Group, Legal Department – VCCI</p>
