As a major regional investor and security partner, Tokyo is stepping up

A series of initiatives organized by prominent members of Italy’s elite has developed new links with ASEAN states. The first and best example in this regard is the “Italy-ASEAN Association,” established in 2015 thanks to the initiative of prominent members of the Italian political, academic, diplomatic, and business communities.

ASEAN should have begun to crack and fall apart from the strain of the rising geopolitical rivalries in Asia between the United States and China, if what critics say about its fragility were true. But ASEAN steadily marched through another difficult and challenging year and quietly delivered many positive results that will improve the wellbeing of its 650 million people.

E’ vero che non è stato un grande anno per il libero scambio, ma i colloqui al vertice ASEAN di Bangkok potrebbero portare a un accordo per creare il più grande blocco commerciale del mondo. I leader di 16 paesi dell’area Asia-Pacifico si riuniranno per gli sciogliere gli ultimi nodi sul Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership.

Negli ultimi 20 anni, a chi si fosse messo, su un molo nel golfo di Persico, a guardare se le petroliere viravano ad est o a ovest, sarebbe stato chiaro che già nel 2000 eravamo all’alba del secolo asiatico.

La Marina filippina si appresta a prendere in consegna parte del cantiere della Hanjin Heavy Industries a Subic Bay per sostenere la ripresa del porto, colpito dalla bancarotta del colosso navale coreano, e assicurarsi che sia tenuto fuori dalle mire della Cina.

Il Primo Ministro indiano Narendra Modi e il Presidente indonesiano Joko Widodo, in un incontro a margine del G20 di Osaka di giugno hanno annunciato l’ambizioso obiettivo di raggiungere un volume di interscambio commerciale di 50 miliardi di dollari entro il 2025.

L’Italia e la Thailandia vantano già 150 anni di relazioni bilaterali e le reciproche visite dei ministri degli esteri a febbraio e marzo di quest’anno hanno celebrato e ravvivato questo rapporto, entrato in crisi dopo la dura presa di posizione dell’Unione Europea nei confronti del colpo di stato militare del 2014.

Le Filippine rappresentano un caso molto particolare nell’area ASEAN. Pur essendo inserite nel contesto del Sud-est asiatico, le Filippine non fanno parte dell’Indocina e neanche dell’Insulindia, quella “virgola rovesciata” che unisce l’Indocina all’Australia. L’arcipelago delle Filippine sembra più un elemento del contrafforte che, partendo dalla Kamčatka e passando per le isole del Giappone e per Taiwan, separa, lungo il Pacifico, l’Oriente dall’Occidente.

As ASEAN has played in South East Asia a role similar to the one played by the European Union in our continent, Western commentators tend to analyze the first using categories applied when commenting on the second. However, this approach should be avoided, as it is misleading and does not allow for understanding the goals and peculiarities of the ASEAN.

Approvato un emendamento per abbassare l’età per acquisire il diritto di voto a 18 anni, rispetto ai 21 precedenti.

Malaysia has scored a high 0.804 on the United Nations Development Programme’s (UNDP) Human Development Index (HDI) for 2018, placing it in the Very High Human Development category. Malaysia’s ranking rose primarily due to an improved life expectancy and a higher Per Capita Gross National Income.

The European Union imposed five-year tariffs on biodiesel from Indonesia to counter alleged subsidies to producers in the country, a move that could prompt the Indonesian government to retaliate.

Japanese PM Shinzo Abe is flying to New Delhi next week to meet up with Indian PM Modi, with the aim to convince India to take up the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). After seven years, the negotiations were completed last November in Bangkok.

The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) will set up a fighter training detachment in the US territory of Guam under an agreement inked by Singapore and the US, in a sign of deepening defence ties between the two countries.

As the global trade regime threatens to unravel under the Trump administration’s assault on the WTO dispute settlement disciplines and its tearing up the rules in its trade war with China, ASEAN would seem the most unlikely bloc to spring effectively to its defence.

ASEAN continues its impressive growth: according to the latest ASEAN Intregration Report, ASEAN is now the world's fifth largest economy (iif considered as a single entity). Notwithstanding growing uncertainties in the global economy, ASEAN’s overall economic performance remains robust. Thus, the rise of the bloc signals the success of of the regional integration process in South-East Asia.

Thailand’s Education Minister Nataphol Teepsuwan has outlined plans to improve the country’s vocational education sector. These plans have come following expressed fears that Thailand’s education system is not on par with international standards. This is especially important if Thailand hopes to see its ambitious Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) project become a success. The need for a properly trained and cost-effective workforce is emerging as a key concern for demanding prospective investors.