As the 12th Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit is to be held soon in Cebu, the Philippines, several issues are expected to stand out on the leaders' agenda.
The "ASEAN-plus-3" summit, involving the 10 member countries of ASEAN plus China, South Korea and Japan, is expected to endorse plans to step up regional economic integration and create a common market by 2015, instead of 2020 as originally planned.
Philippine Undersecretary for Foreign Affairs Erlinda Basilio says the summit will issue a Cebu Declaration on the Acceleration and Establishment of an ASEAN Community by 2015.
Somjai Phagaphasvivat of Bangkok's Thammasat University comments on the ASEAN Community.
 "We're moving along and we have a schedule and shorten that schedule to 2015, I think that would be a success for ASEAN and the upcoming summit."
The creation of a unified ASEAN bloc will allow a free flow of goods, services and investment across the region.
ASEAN leaders are also expected to sign a declaration on the protection of the rights of migrant workers, as well as an ASEAN Counter-Terrorism Convention. |
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