ASEAN Summit
\n Jakarta
\nChinese Prime Minister Li Qiang has called for unity and promoting cooperation in East Asia expressing hope that countries outside the region fully respect the efforts made by the regional countries to negotiate the rules of the South China Sea and maintain peace and stability in the region.
\nHe expressed these views at the 43rd summit of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) concluded in Jakarta recently.
\nASEAN, he said had been China\u2019s largest trading partner for three consecutive years. We look forward to accelerating pace of mutual cooperation for the collective good of the people of this part of the world as well as the entire world, said PM Li.
\nIn the first half of 2023, China\u2019s trade with ASEAN countries accounted for 15.3 percent of China\u2019s total trade, reaching 3.08 trillion yuan ($428.96 billion), up 5.4 percent from 2022.
\nIndonesia had hosted the 43rd Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit and several other high-profile meetings associated with the Summit held in Jakarta from September 5 to 7.
\nLeaders from 22 countries and nine international organizations attended the summit, making it the largest of its kind ever.
\n\u201cWithin three days, 12 summits have been held, resulting in 90 outcome documents and a number of concrete agreements with partners,\u201d Indonesian President Joko Widodo said while addressing the closing ceremony of the summit.
\nAs a grouping, ASEAN is the 5th largest economy in the world, with a combined GDP of $3.3 trillion in 2021. ASEAN has become one of the fastest growing regions in recent years.
\nDue to geopolitical relations, the role of ASEAN in regional affairs and governance has attracted much attention from the international community. ASEAN has become an important force influencing regional and international affairs.
\nThe most significant challenge in Jakarta is to decide how ASEAN countries can avoid tipping the balance between China and the U.S., and maintain sustainable economic growth despite the influence of the competition between them. To do this, ASEAN must maintain healthy ties with both countries.
\nIndonesia\u2019s chairmanship in this year\u2019s ASEAN summit has the theme \u201cASEAN Matters: Epicentrum of Growth.\u201d The priority for the 43rd ASEAN Summit focuses on how to strengthen ASEAN to become a fast-growing, inclusive, and sustainable economic region amid a changing world. This year\u2019s theme reflects ASEAN\u2019s determination to take its own development as the primary goal.
\nThere are many topics on the agenda for the 43rd ASEAN Summit. Nevertheless, the focus is on the economy.
\nHow to achieve a fast-growing and inclusive growth by providing new impetus to the regional economy is the top priority among the member countries. Attracting investment and boosting trade are vital for ASEAN.
\nThe ASEAN countries have enormous natural resources.
\nThey could offer huge potential opportunities for foreign investors. During the Summit, leaders discussed how to deepen cooperation in emerging areas such as the digital economy, e-commerce, food security and green economy. Deepening cooperation in these areas will make ASEAN more resilient to cope with future challenges.
\nThe leaders also discussed the way to push for regional integration during the Summit. Economic fragmentation could slowdown regional economic growth and make ASEAN harder to tackle emerging challenges.
\nASEAN, which was founded in August 1967, is a political and economic organization consisting of 10 countries located in the Southeast Asian region, namely Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, Brunei, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos and Myanmar.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
ASEAN Summit Jakarta Chinese Prime Minister Li Qiang has called for unity and promoting cooperation in East Asia expressing hope that countries outside the region fully respect the efforts made by the regional countries to negotiate the rules of the South China Sea and maintain peace and stability in the region. He expressed these views […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":355019,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-355077","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-business"},"yoast_head":"\n