AI
Tuesday, November 05, 2019 9:48:03 PM
ASEAN summit: Asia trade bloc deal 'expected' in February 2020
"A New Cold War Has Begun
"China Warns 2 American Warships in South China Sea
"The Dispute About the South China Sea Is Also a Dispute About History and America's Role"""
Plans to sign the world's largest free trade pact at a regional summit in Bangkok have been thrown into doubt
after objections from India. China, hurt by its trade war with the US, is keen to see the deal finalized.
[Hidden inside]UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha,
Brunei's Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen
An agreement to create the world's largest trade bloc .. https://www.dw.com/en/asean-summit-grapples-with-us-china-trade-war/a-51090792 .. will be signed by Asian countries in 2020, the Thai government said Monday.
Thailand, which is hosting the three-day Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in Bangkok, had previously said it hoped to conclude negotiations on the trade deal by the end of the year.
Read more: Free trade in Asia in the age of protectionism
https://www.dw.com/en/apec-summit-free-trade-in-asia-in-the-age-of-protectionism/a-41316742
Watch video 01:36 - China's foreign trade has shrunk more than expected
The new trade area, known as the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), involves the 10 ASEAN members, plus China, Australia, New Zealand, India, Japan and South Korea. If implemented, it would be the world's largest free trade bloc, comprising nearly half the world's population and about a third of GDP.
Under pressure
The trade war between China and the United States has taken a toll on export-dependent Southeast Asian countries .. https://www.dw.com/en/asean-summit-southeast-asian-nations-wary-of-us-china-trade-row/a-49305191 . Economic growth in the region is projected to slow this year to its lowest level in five years, making the signing of the deal more pressing for many ASEAN members.
Speaking at the summit's formal opening, Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha called for a swift agreement "within this year to stimulate economic growth as well as trade and investment."
"The early conclusion of RCEP negotiations will lay the foundation for East Asia's economic integration," a statement from China's Foreign Ministry said on Sunday.
RCEP negotiations had stalled over India raising concerns about the impact a flood of cheap Chinese goods could have on local businesses.
Read more: Angela Merkel visiting India to bolster ties amid China's growing clout
https://www.dw.com/en/angela-merkel-visiting-india-to-bolster-ties-amid-chinas-growing-clout/a-51054095
Some countries have also raised the possibility of moving ahead without India. Discussions on the deal will resume when member states meet on Monday afternoon.
ASEAN countries at a glance
Symbolizing unity
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) celebrated its 50th anniversary last year. Since its founding, the bloc has emerged as a beacon of unity in Southeast Asia, although it has often struggled to find consensus among members over key policy issues affecting the region's politics, security and the economy, among other things.
1234567891011 [links to more inside]
South China Sea tensions
Tensions over the contested South China Sea were also on the agenda at the ASEAN gathering. After meeting with leaders, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said Beijing was ready to work with countries in the region .. https://www.dw.com/en/beijing-advances-code-of-conduct-for-south-china-sea/a-46284818 .. to ensure long-term peace and stability.
Li said significant progress had been made on a legally binding code of conduct, which is due to be completed by 2021. The document has long been an aim for ASEAN countries, which reject China's vast maritime claims and accuse Beijing of encroaching on their territory.
Read more: Beijing advances 'code of conduct' for South China Sea
https://www.dw.com/en/beijing-advances-code-of-conduct-for-south-china-sea/a-46284818
ASEAN is made up of Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, the Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam, Brunei, Cambodia, Myanmar and Laos.
Leaders were also due to discuss air pollution, illegal fishing and further economic cooperation before the summit ends on Monday.
Watch video 01:12 China’s third-quarter growth weakest in 27 years
nm/jlw (Reuters, AFP, AP)
Each evening at 1830 UTC, DW's editors send out a selection of the day's hard
news and quality feature journalism. You can sign up to receive it directly here.
https://www.dw.com/en/newsletter-registration/a-15718229
DW recommends
More articles - https://www.dw.com/en/asean-summit-asia-trade-bloc-deal-expected-in-february-2020/a-51097080
"A New Cold War Has Begun
"China Warns 2 American Warships in South China Sea
"The Dispute About the South China Sea Is Also a Dispute About History and America's Role"""
Plans to sign the world's largest free trade pact at a regional summit in Bangkok have been thrown into doubt
after objections from India. China, hurt by its trade war with the US, is keen to see the deal finalized.
[Hidden inside]UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha,
Brunei's Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen
An agreement to create the world's largest trade bloc .. https://www.dw.com/en/asean-summit-grapples-with-us-china-trade-war/a-51090792 .. will be signed by Asian countries in 2020, the Thai government said Monday.
Thailand, which is hosting the three-day Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in Bangkok, had previously said it hoped to conclude negotiations on the trade deal by the end of the year.
Read more: Free trade in Asia in the age of protectionism
https://www.dw.com/en/apec-summit-free-trade-in-asia-in-the-age-of-protectionism/a-41316742
Watch video 01:36 - China's foreign trade has shrunk more than expected
The new trade area, known as the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), involves the 10 ASEAN members, plus China, Australia, New Zealand, India, Japan and South Korea. If implemented, it would be the world's largest free trade bloc, comprising nearly half the world's population and about a third of GDP.
Under pressure
The trade war between China and the United States has taken a toll on export-dependent Southeast Asian countries .. https://www.dw.com/en/asean-summit-southeast-asian-nations-wary-of-us-china-trade-row/a-49305191 . Economic growth in the region is projected to slow this year to its lowest level in five years, making the signing of the deal more pressing for many ASEAN members.
Speaking at the summit's formal opening, Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha called for a swift agreement "within this year to stimulate economic growth as well as trade and investment."
"The early conclusion of RCEP negotiations will lay the foundation for East Asia's economic integration," a statement from China's Foreign Ministry said on Sunday.
RCEP negotiations had stalled over India raising concerns about the impact a flood of cheap Chinese goods could have on local businesses.
Read more: Angela Merkel visiting India to bolster ties amid China's growing clout
https://www.dw.com/en/angela-merkel-visiting-india-to-bolster-ties-amid-chinas-growing-clout/a-51054095
Some countries have also raised the possibility of moving ahead without India. Discussions on the deal will resume when member states meet on Monday afternoon.
ASEAN countries at a glance
Symbolizing unity
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) celebrated its 50th anniversary last year. Since its founding, the bloc has emerged as a beacon of unity in Southeast Asia, although it has often struggled to find consensus among members over key policy issues affecting the region's politics, security and the economy, among other things.
1234567891011 [links to more inside]
South China Sea tensions
Tensions over the contested South China Sea were also on the agenda at the ASEAN gathering. After meeting with leaders, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said Beijing was ready to work with countries in the region .. https://www.dw.com/en/beijing-advances-code-of-conduct-for-south-china-sea/a-46284818 .. to ensure long-term peace and stability.
Li said significant progress had been made on a legally binding code of conduct, which is due to be completed by 2021. The document has long been an aim for ASEAN countries, which reject China's vast maritime claims and accuse Beijing of encroaching on their territory.
Read more: Beijing advances 'code of conduct' for South China Sea
https://www.dw.com/en/beijing-advances-code-of-conduct-for-south-china-sea/a-46284818
ASEAN is made up of Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, the Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam, Brunei, Cambodia, Myanmar and Laos.
Leaders were also due to discuss air pollution, illegal fishing and further economic cooperation before the summit ends on Monday.
Watch video 01:12 China’s third-quarter growth weakest in 27 years
nm/jlw (Reuters, AFP, AP)
Each evening at 1830 UTC, DW's editors send out a selection of the day's hard
news and quality feature journalism. You can sign up to receive it directly here.
https://www.dw.com/en/newsletter-registration/a-15718229
DW recommends
More articles - https://www.dw.com/en/asean-summit-asia-trade-bloc-deal-expected-in-february-2020/a-51097080
It was Plato who said, “He, O men, is the wisest, who like Socrates, knows that his wisdom is in truth worth nothing”
Discover What Traders Are Watching
Explore small cap ideas before they hit the headlines.
