Summit to discuss ASEAN single market, Thailand, Myanmar
Summit to discuss ASEAN single market, Thailand, Myanmar
Martin Abbugao, Agence France-Presse, Vientiane
Accelerating regional economic integration, unrest in Thailand, terrorism and Myanmar's political problems are expected to dominate the annual summit of Southeast Asian leaders in Laos.
Senior Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) officials will kick off talks in the Laotian capital of Vientiane on Wednesday, followed by a gathering of their foreign ministers on Saturday and a two-day leaders' summit from November 29.
Southeast Asian government officials who will attend the summit told AFP that a push to accelerate a 2020 timetable for ASEAN to establish a European Union-style single market would be a key topic of discussion for the leaders.
Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra are leading the call for an earlier deadline, saying 2020 is too far away, although the less developed ASEAN nations are more reluctant.
The ASEAN leaders will be joined at their summit by their counterparts from China, Japan, South Korea, India, Australia and New Zealand, as the Southeast Asian bloc seeks to pursue closer economic ties throughout the Asia-Pacific.
"The Vientiane summit will put across ASEAN's drive to remain focused on promoting ASEAN's economic integration and on building common economic space within East Asia," ASEAN Secretariat spokesman M.C. Abad told AFP.
ASEAN is already negotiating separate free-trade agreements with China, Japan and India to be completed within 10 years, and South Korea, which has dithered on such a pact, also now wants to hitch onto the bandwagon.
South Korea is expected to sign a comprehensive cooperation partnership joint declaration with ASEAN to establish a free trade area within 10 years or earlier, according to a Southeast Asian source who asked not to be named.
ASEAN is also expected to discuss with Australia and New Zealand plans to elevate their current "closer economic partnership" into a free-trade pact that would be implemented within 10 years, added the source.
The accord is important because the combined gross domestic product of Australia and New Zealand is estimated at US$1.3 trillion, not far off China's $1.4 trillion, he said.
To speed up economic integration within ASEAN itself, the leaders are expected to endorse an agreement reached by their finance ministers in September to remove trade barriers in 11 priority sectors.
These are: air travel, auto, electronics, fisheries, agro- based products, healthcare, information and communications technology, rubber, textiles and clothing, tourism and wood products.
Concrete developments are also expected in the ASEAN-China free trade accord currently under negotiations, with ASEAN and Chinese leaders expected to sign an agreement to liberalize trade in goods.
This is the first component in the negotiating process leading to an overall pact, the other chapter being opening up the services sector.
The ASEAN-China FTA promises to create the world's biggest free-trade bloc of nearly two billion people.
While officially not on the agenda, the violence in Thailand's restive southern Muslim provinces that has left nearly 550 people dead this year is also expected to be raised.
Analysts expect Bangkok to escape rebuke due to ASEAN's policy of non-interference in members' internal affairs, although Thaksin may feel obliged to explain to his counterparts the problems in the south.
"It is not on the agenda. But there is a practice in ASEAN to give voluntary briefings on issues of interest to most members," the ASEAN source said.
Myanmar's military rule will also undoubtedly be a topic of discussion, following last month's leadership shake-up that saw prime minister Khin Nyunt placed under house arrest and replaced by Lieutenant General Soe Win.
With Soe Win regarded as a military hardliner, his briefings to his ASEAN counterparts on Myanmar's so-called "roadmap for democracy" will be eagerly awaited.
"He and his foreign minister will face some hard questions, for sure," a senior Southeast Asian diplomat said.
Terrorism will also be a key talking point, with ASEAN and Japan expected to adopt a joint declaration for cooperation in counter-terrorism.
The declaration will cover exchange of information on the activities of terrorist groups and law enforcement cooperation, including through extradition and mutual assistance in prosecution of terrorists, an ASEAN source said.
ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.