ASEAN’s Golden Opportunity (Bangkok Post, 23 January 2017)
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is celebrating 50 years of existence in 2017, with the Philippines holding the chairmanship of the 10-member bloc. The golden anniversary presents a golden opportunity for ASEAN leaders to show how important regionalism can be at a time when people all over the world are questioning the value of free trade and globalization. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Jan 15 highlighted the six priorities his country would pursue during its one-year Asean chairmanship: placing people at the core, working for regional peace and stability, pursuing maritime security and cooperation, advancing inclusive, innovation-led growth; strengthening ASEAN resiliency, and promoting ASEAN as a model of regionalism and a global player.