Indonesia’s KADIN chair Anindya Bakrie says ASEAN has emerged not just as a bystander but an orchestrator of trade, citing Indonesia’s growing list of deals despite global headwinds.

Southeast Asia’s ASEAN bloc will not send observers to Myanmar’s elections in December, diplomatic sources said Monday—a setback to the junta’s push for international legitimacy. Junta chief Min Aung Hlaing has billed the December 28 polls as a step towards reconciliation in the civil war unleashed by his 2021 coup.

Anthony Albanese has shrugged off concerns US negotiations with China could threaten his government’s landmark critical minerals deal.

Chinese Premier Li Qiang’s visit to Southeast Asia for the ASEAN Summit is expected to spotlight Beijing’s shifting trade and diplomatic priorities in the region. The discussions come as the region navigates rising U.

Asean and India will also advance sustainable tourism, guided by the principles of the green, blue, and circular economy, and focusing on planet-friendly and nature-positive practices that address the needs of local communities while ensuring a high-quality tourist experience.

The bloc will reportedly not send observers to the military-administered elections planned for December, but is likely to accept the new status quo that emerges.

Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director of IMF, says ASEAN has built valuable financial institutions for trade, but more can be done in to improve agility in the private sector.

JAKARTA: President Prabowo Subianto has returned to Jakarta from Malaysia ahead of schedule, following a busy weekend at the Asean Summit, which saw South-East Asian leaders sit down with United States President Donald Trump to hash out new deals,