The ASEAN Secretariat held its 3rd ASEAN Media Forum in Bangkok, Thailand, and brought together about 30 media leaders and prominent bloggers from the 10 ASEAN member countries to dialogue with the region’s thought leaders on vital economic issues affecting the Association.
The United States (US)-China trade war and the stalled negotiations for trade pacts and maritime guidelines were among the main issues at last week’s 34th ASEAN Summit in Bangkok, highlighting the region’s concerns over growing geopolitical and trade tensions.Global trade is facing uncertainties after the US and China embarked on a see-saw of tariffs last year, with Filipino President Rodrigo Duterte calling for the two economic superpowers to “resolve their differences before the situation s
India is hoping that better connectivity will help boost trade ties with ASEAN and decrease its trade deficit with the 10-member bloc.ASEAN is India’s second largest trading partner after China and total bilateral trade between ASEAN and India reached US$81.3 billion last year – an increase of more than 28 times the US$2.9 billion recorded in 1993.Bilateral trade between the two parties was US$21 billion in 2005-06, and although it has increased nearly fourfold since then, the ASEAN-India Fre
The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) is said to be one of the biggest trade deals in the world. Spearheaded by ASEAN, it will encompass 25 percent of global gross domestic product (GDP), 45 percent of the total population, 30 percent of global income and 30 percent global trade.
2018 proved to be a tumultuous year for the region. Some ASEAN countries faced major challenges. For example, Indonesia was struck by disasters multiple times from earthquakes to a tragic plane crash to a devastating tsunami. Elsewhere, countries were navigating their respective democratic paths. Cambodia and Thailand saw its institutions challenged with Hun Sen winning an allegedly rigged election in Cambodia while Thailand’s junta continued to delay elections it promised to hold.
Last week, The ASEAN Post held its inaugural forum, titled Reimagining Southeast Asia 2018. The half-day forum aimed to facilitate better understanding of the issues in the region and offer insights that affect decision-making processes and outcomes in relation to the many pressing issues and challenges within the region. Saifuddin Abdullah, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Malaysia delivered an exclusive policy brief on Malaysia’s aspirations for ASEAN.
Singapore can now breathe easier as the 33rd ASEAN Summit came to a close yesterday, marking the end of its chairmanship. The second ASEAN summit of the year was a “star-studded affair” compared to the earlier one held in April.
The completion of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) has been delayed once again to 2019. Nevertheless, leaders at the recently concluded ASEAN Summit noted that negotiations have advanced to the final stage.The RCEP encompasses 25 percent global gross domestic product (GDP), 45 percent of the total population, 30 percent of global income and 30 percent global trade.
It is that time of year again when leaders from all over the region congregate and discuss key issues facing the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). While the official opening of the 33rd ASEAN Summit is scheduled for tomorrow, the summit has been underway since 11 November. However, action and excitement are expected to grow tomorrow with the arrival of some big names such as Vladimir Putin, the President of Russia.
The ongoing trade war between the United States (US) and China is set to dominate discussions at the World Economic Forum on ASEAN currently being held in Hanoi. Some of Asia’s top business heavyweights and leaders are expected to attend the forum from 11 to 13 September.Over the past few months, US President Donald Trump has not lifted his foot off the gas as he persists with a slew of tariffs on China, the country which the US imports the most goods from.
Collectively, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is ranked third in terms of population, sixth in gross domestic product (GDP) and fourth in trade value. In the recently concluded ASEAN Economic Ministers’ (AEM) Meeting, it was announced that the combined GDP of the association reached US$2.8 trillion in 2017, a 5.3 percent growth year-on-year, up from 4.8 percent in 2016. Growth is expected to remain stable at around 5.2 percent in 2018 and 2019.
Negotiations for the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) are now at a “critical stage” with a conclusion “finally in sight,” Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said last weekend.
