ASEAN summit

The 20th ASEAN summit meeting is taking place in the Cambodian capital, Phnom Penh. This year's motto - "ASEAN: One Community, One Destiny" - hints at what has been missing since the bloc's foundation in 1967.

The plan is to create an "ASEAN community" that is similar to the European Union and based on shared economic, security and social policy by 2015. The adoption of the ASEAN Charter already set the foundation stones for this in 2007.

An important goal is to abolish trade barriers and create a single market to promote the free movement of goods, people and capital to boost the regional economies and attract foreign investment.

Boosting ties with the EU

Boosting economic ties with Germany and the EU is also important. "The ASEAN region has gained in significance and will continue to do so in future," said Benjamin Leopold, the head of the Asia-Pacific section at the Association of German Chambers of Industry and Commerce (DIHK). "It is one of the most dynamic regions in the world with an average economic growth rate of 6 percent."

Apart from the fact that the region boasts vast quantities of natural resources, he pointed out, the bloc's heterogeneity and population of 620 million offer a variety of business opportunities.

"There is great potential for exporting machines and medical and green technologies from Germany - all of which are currently very much in demand," he added.

ASEAN is already the EU's third largest trading partner, whereas Europe constitutes the second largest partner for the Southeast Asian region.

Free trade agreements with Singapore and Malaysia are expected to take effect within the next year and negotiations about setting up an EU-ASEAN free trade agreement are currently underway.

Vying for power

Some states have been quicker on their feet. China signed an agreement with ASEAN in 2010 and trade has subsequently increased by 50 percent.

"With its investments and trade presence, China is most definitely the main actor in many ASEAN states," said Rainer Werning from Bonn University.

However, he added that while China was economically stronger, the US was consolidating its military presence in the region.

President Barack Obama highlighted this last fall when he launched a new strategic doctrine for the Asia-Pacific and suggested a Southeast Asian Marine Partnership (SAMP).

There has been tension between Beijing and Washington over the disputed Spratly Islands in the South China Sea, to which many countries lay claim to, including China, Taiwan, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam and Brunei. The area is thought to be very rich in natural resources and is also home to important shipping lanes, which the US has a "national interest" in keeping free and open.

On Tuesday, Philippines President Benigno Aquino said that ASEAN should forge a common position on a proposed code of conduct aimed at easing tensions in the South China Sea before talking with China.

He said it was important that ASEAN "set the direction." However, not all ASEAN members support his position, according to observers.

Werning had said before the summit that Chinese President Hu Jintao's recent visit to Cambodia had ensured the matter would not "dominate the agenda but would have a more subliminal impact."

Lifting sanctions against Myanmar

Another reason the matter might have been given less attention is the dominance of the recent by-election in Myanmar, also known as Burma.

On Tuesday, Asian leaders called for an end to sanctions on Myanmar after the historic poll saw opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi win a seat in parliament.

"The lifting of sanctions would contribute positively to the democratic process and especially economic development of Myanmar," Cambodian Secretary of State Kao Kim Hourn told reporters on the sidelines of the ASEAN summit.

In the past, ASEAN meetings have often been overshadowed by accusations of human rights abuses in Myanmar and crackdowns on political dissent but the past year of political and economic transformation has ushered in new hope.

At the last ASEAN summit in November 2011, Myanmar was promised chairmanship of the bloc in 2014.

ASEAN comprises Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Brunei, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar and Cambodia. Timor Leste and Papua New Guinea have observer status only and are not taking part in the summit in Phnom Penh.

Author: Gero Simone / Anne Thomas (AFP, dpa)
Editor: Sarah Berning