(Oita Godo Newspaper, August 14th 2009, evening paper)

(Bangkok) The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) had a conference for the ASEAN Economic Ministers on August 14th 2009. The countries re-confirmed the objective of the establishment of ASEAN's Economic Community, which is to liberate the movement and flow of people, products, services, and capital within the area, and to establish free trade in the area.

In 2007, ASEAN mapped out detailed executive plan in order to establish ASEAN Economic Community. During this conference, the topic discussed was the introduction of a mechanism to supervise whether the ten countries in ASEAN truly carried out their detailed plan to decrease or abolish import duties between them.

Moreover, the countries shared the fact that they are recovering from the world financial crisis starting last year's fall. They also discussed that, in order to ensure sustainable growth, they need to cooperate to move a step ahead in the integration within themselves as well as to promote the reduction of import duties with countries outside ASEAN.

Comment: It is really good to hear that Asia has rebounded quickly  from the financial crisis. Asia indeed has a lot of potential for economic growth in the future and this can be realized through the cooperation between nations in Asia. I am looking forward to more cooperations and agreements made between the countries.

NUGROHO Katarina Marsha Utama

Indonesia

Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University, (APM3)