ASEAN Summit Ends in Hua Hin
The 14th annual ASEAN summit has concluded today in Thailand. Along with neigbouring Cha Am, Hua Hin hosted this year’s event instead of the Thai capital following the political upheaval in Bangkok at the end of last year.
Many of the ASEAN countries, including Thailand, have export-driven economies and not surprisingly the global financial crisis was never far from the agenda. During the summit, ASEAN leaders signed a free trade agreement with Australia and New Zealand and endorsed various measures to stimulate economic activity within the ASEAN region. Members also reiterated the desire to form a regional economic community similar to that of the European Union.
Thai prime minister Abhisit will be relieved that protesters had no real impact on the summit. Last week’s red shirt protest in Bangkok was relatively short-lived whilst in Hua Hin itself a small group of environmental protesters unfurled banners calling for tougher measures to deal with global warming.
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