asean

China-ASEAN Trade Pact 3.0 Boosts Regional Ties

October 28, 2025 3:28 am

On Tuesday in Kuala Lumpur, Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and China formally signed an upgraded free-trade agreement, dubbed version “3.0”, broadening trade collaboration into infrastructure, digital, green-economy and people-to-people exchanges.

The pact shows the Countries’ strategy of strengthening ties with China as trade between the two surged to about US$785 billion in the first nine months of 2025, up roughly 9.6% year-on-year. The deal comes amid heightened trade tensions with the Donald Trump administration in the United States.

According to China’s State Council, the revamped pact will expand cooperation on infrastructure, digital trade, green transition, trade facilitation and …

Trump’s ASEAN Trip Leaves Region Wary On Trade Future

October 27, 2025 1:52 pm

US President Donald Trump wrapped up his visit to Southeast Asia after attending the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur, but his shifting trade policies have left lingering uncertainty across the region.

Trump’s most high-profile engagement at the summit was overseeing a ceasefire agreement between Thailand and Cambodia. On the economic front, he announced reciprocal trade deals with Malaysia and Cambodia, along with framework agreements — precursors to full trade deals — with Thailand and Vietnam.

Under the agreements, the four countries accepted US tariff rates of 19–20% and pledged to cut non-tariff barriers on American goods. Cambodia and Thailand …

East Timor Joins ASEAN As 11th Member In Landmark Move

October 26, 2025 3:34 am

The tiny Southeast Asian nation of Timor‑Leste (also known as East Timor) officially became the 11th member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) at a formal ceremony held on 26 October 2025 in Kuala Lumpur. This milestone was marked by the raising of Timor-Leste’s flag alongside those of the other ten members.

This accession is more than symbolic: for Timor-Leste, it opens the door to ASEAN’s free trade deals, investment flows and membership in a regional market of some 680 million people. Despite its modest economy, estimated at around US $2 billion compared with ASEAN’s collective …

Moon, Abe Hold ‘Friendly’ Talks On ASEAN Sidelines

November 4, 2019 3:20 pm

South Korean President Moon Jae-in and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Monday held their first talks for more than a year on the sidelines of a regional summit in Thailand, Moon’s office said, with the neighbours’ relationship in dire straits.

Ties between Seoul and Tokyo — both of them US allies facing the twin challenges of nuclear-armed North Korea and an increasingly assertive China — are at rock-bottom over a dispute related to Japan’s use of forced labour during World War II, with the countries trading retaliatory sanctions.

Moon and Abe held a “very friendly and serious” dialogue that

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