Leaders from around the world are gathering in Brunei for the 23rd ASEAN Summit and related meetings, the last multilateral opportunity this year for Asian-Pacific leaders to discuss regional cooperation. This year, the Summit is expected to discuss preparations for the ASEAN Community by 2015.
As the leaders of the 10 members of ASEAN and most of their +6 partners are heading to Brunei for the 23rd ASEAN summit, the meeting has one notable omission though as US President Barack Obama will be absent amid the ongoing budget standoff in Washington.
The back-to-back ASEAN and East Asia summits though is expected to be fruitful. With China expected to play a major role as Premier Li looks to continue President Xi Jinping’s very successful and historic first visit to the region.
This will be crucial for the region, especially in the long standing South China Sea issue.
“I think if we don’t solve the problem between Southeast Asian countries, the forum will not be quite effective I think the first steps we have to make an agenda how to solve the territorial problems.” Rizal Darma Putra, executive director of Indonesian Strategic & Defense Studies Institute said.
The forum can’t afford to be ineffective as the ASEAN dream of integrating 600 million people into one community is looming.
With major development gap still a problem and trade imbalance a concern, the meeting is hoped to review and ensure the plan is on track, especially in region’s current economic volatility.
“With the current condition, the short term plan for ASEAN becomes crucial for the region’s growth, but what must be remembered is to balance that commitment with the long term goal of making an integrated and balanced community.” Economist Roy Sembel said.
Reporter: "Finding the delicate balance will be the great challenge here as deadline for ASEAN’s integration plan looms and a whole range of complicated and potentially divisive issues needs to be solved."