GMA urges commitment to Asean roadmap
CHINA FACTORY OUTPUT SLOWS DUE TO POLLUTION CRACKDOWN
THE Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) is poised to build on gains made since it started on the path towards integration, former Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo said on Tuesday, but the bloc should also remain committed to a 10-year roadmap unveiled after the Asean Economic Community (AEC) was declared two years ago.
“When we began an economic community in 2015, we also crafted a vision of Asean 2025, that is when we will become a community highly integrated and cohesive, with enhanced connectivity, and central cooperation and a more resilient, inclusive, peoplecentered community, integrated in the global economy,” Arroyo said Business and Investments Summit.
She warned of an “uphill battle” if the bloc failed to achieve the 2025 vision.
“We need to prevent terrorism from expanding and mitigate climate change.We need to have broken down non-tariff barriers also need to implement already our mutual agreements in order to trim down the barriers for the
“If we hurdle this vision in 2025, in 50 years, we will be in a what is seen as prosperity driven by technology, cleaner environment. If we achieve the vision in that, we will have a chance to be a global force in the next 50 years.”
Arroyo said the region, which she described as the “fastest growing” in the world, was already ex -
“Asean, which has now expanded from 5 to 10 countries including Cambodia, has kept the peace, expanded our economies and became closer together through trade, diplomacy and greater connectivity. We are proud of what Asean has achieved in the past 50 years in terms of peace, security