Click here to purchase the book.
Click here to purchase the book.
Click here to purchase the book.
The year 2015 has special significance for regional economic integration. The ASEAN Community, integrating the political, economic and social aspects of regional cooperation, will complete its first milestone by December 2015. Expectations of tangible benefits under an ASEAN Economic Community have attracted much attention though many of the initiatives will be realized post-2015.The Southeast Asian economies are also involved in two other regional initiatives. First is the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), initiated by the United States. Second, the discussions on regional connectivity have broadened; China has emerged as a recent lead proponent with its proposals for “One Belt, One Road” and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. All these together have implications not only for individual Southeast Asian countries but also for regional trading architecture. To aid in understanding the beginnings, development, and potential of these grand plans, this collection of 22 essays offers a rich analysis of ASEAN’s own economic integration and other related initiatives proliferating in the broader Asia-Pacific region.
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ASEAN has been active in the formation of regional trade agreements (RTAs) since the early 1990s. Besides its own integration initiatives like the ASEAN Free Trade Area and the ASEAN Economic Community, ASEAN has also enacted five plus 1 FTAs with China, South Korea, Japan, India, Australia and New Zealand, making ASEAN an FTA hub for broader Asian region. A decision was reached in November 2011 to establish a comprehensive RTA, covering the five ASEAN+1 FTAs under the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) framework. Another RTA that has attracted lot of attention lately is the TransPacific Partnership (TPP), led by the United States.
Despite the similar objective of increasing economic cooperation, the two RTAs differ from each other. RCEP is expected to accommodate the development differences of the member countries, while TPP is said to have a more demanding set of commitments. Both RCEP and TPP are perceived to have strategic roles in the AsiaPacific region. TPP is a component of the U.S.’s Asian ‘pivot’ strategy , in reaction to Asia’s economic rise and integration efforts. TPP also can be viewed as a consequence of the limited integration progress under APEC. In addition many have argued that TPP is a containment strategy aimed at China. RCEP is expected to reinforce ASEAN ‘centrality’ in the wider AsiaPacific regional architecture. The ongoing negotiations for both RCEP and TPP face complex challenges, and are expected to encounter difficulties to conclude.
As the 2015 ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) target approaches, this volume examines the issues and challenges with a sympathetic yet arms-length approach. ASEAN will miss some of the targets laid out in its AEC Blueprint, but the reader is left in no doubt that the ASEAN spirit is alive and well. This edited volume has contributions from an outstanding and diverse group of authors, and the co-editors have added their highly authoritative commentary and analysis based on their respective wide experience of regional economic integration processes. A must-read for anybody serious interested in ASEAN.
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The official AEC Scorecard tracks the implementation of measures and the achievement of milestones to which ASEAN member states have committed in the AEC Strategic Schedule. However, the AEC Scorecard in its current form, conveys little information to ASEAN citizens. This book aims to fill the information gap and evaluate the current state of progress towards accomplishing the AEC Blueprint priorities. The overall message of this book is that although some of the goals set for regional economic integration will be missed by December 2015, ASEAN can certainly deliver some of the key AEC initiatives, including tariff elimination; establishing the ASEAN Single Window; laying the foundation for the regional investment initiative; advancing ASEAN tourism services; moving ahead with ASEAN connectivity; and realisation of ASEAN’s +1 FTAs. The AEC goal of forming an equitable and competitive regional economic community will continue to be a work in progress.
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ASEAN has set itself the goal to create an economic community by 2015. To achieve this, connectivity among the member states needs to be given due importance. In 2010, ASEAN adopted a Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity, which looks at the physical, institutional, and people-to-people aspects of the issue. 15 priority projects have the potential to transform the region, providing the conditions for a single market and production base. But this will be an expensive endeavour, and funding remains a challenge. The private sector needs to be actively involved, especially for the infrastructure projects that lack substantial investment. This book looks at the current state of ASEAN’s physical connectivity and the challenges in building better infrastructure. The chapters discuss specific issues pertaining to the types of infrastructure challenges. The book concludes with recommendations on steps to be taken in implementing the various plans.
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Urbanisation occurs in tandem with development. Countries in Southeast Asia need to build – individually and collectively – the capacity of their cities and towns to promote economic growth and development, to make urban development more sustainable, to mitigate and adapt to climate change, and to ensure that all groups in society share in that development. This book is the result of a series of regional discussions by experts and practitioners involved in the urban development and planning of their countries. It highlights urbanisation issues that have implications for regional – including ASEAN – cooperation, and provides practical recommendations for policy makers. It is a first step towards assisting governments in the region to take advantage of existing collaborative partnerships to address the urban transformation that Southeast Asia is facing today.
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Assuming duties of Chair of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) for 2012, Russia is keen to build on its membership in the East Asia Summit under the ASEAN regional architecture, as well as in the Asia-Europe Meeting. Geographically, Russia is part of both Asia and the Asia-Pacific. It has been an ASEAN Dialogue Partner since 1996. Still, the obstacles of distance and language have prevented ASEAN and Russia from learning more about, and interacting with, each other. As growth poles in the world economy, there is much to benefit from greater interactions between their rich economies. This edited volume compiles insights and analyses offered by representatives of the academe, public and private sectors at a conference co-organised by the ASEAN Studies Centre at ISEAS and the MGIMO University, on topics ranging from geopolitics, bilateral relations, business and economics, and culture and education. This is a timely volume published in commemoration of the 15th anniversary of ASEAN-Russia Dialogue, offering insights to where ASEAN-Russia relations currently stand, and how they can improve and move forward.
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