Scene of the Jakarta blasts (Photo: EPA/VNA) 
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. expects Singapore to take the lead in implementing the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA) when it assumes the ASEAN chairmanship in 2027.
Malaysia also looked forward to Egypt's support for ASEAN in exploring cooperation with the African Union (AU), as the regional grouping continued to expand its relations with other regions to strengthen resilience.
India and ASEAN signed AITIGA in 2009 to promote trade liberalisation and expand economic ties. However, changes in trade patterns, supply chains and the global economic environment have created a need to update the agreement to reflect current conditions.
The Deputy PM welcomed Pasqal, a French company specialising in neutral-atom quantum computing, for exploring cooperation with Vietnam. He also recognised Vietnamese technology group FPT’s pioneering investment in quantum technology and artificial intelligence research and training.
Philippine Ambassador to India Josel Ignacio said the bazaar introduced ASEAN countries’ cultures and cuisine to Indian and international visitors, noting that culture and food form an effective way to bring people closer together.
The forum offers a venue for participants to share experience in handling cross-border criminal cases and civil and commercial disputes, as well as to explore ways for more effective cooperation in line with national laws and international treaties.
Making effective use of ASEAN cooperation agenda and mechanisms would provide practical support for national, sectoral and local development plans. The growth of each locality and firm also sets the stage for Vietnam to joining and contributing more to ASEAN.
Singapore is an important economic partner of the Philippines, with two-way trade reaching 9.27 billion USD in 2025. Singapore was also the Philippines’ second-largest source of remittances, at about 2.1 billion USD.
Most economies in the region continue to have sound external positions and adequate foreign exchange reserves. The banking system remains well-capitalised, liquid and profitable, while corporate and household debt-to-GDP ratios have generally declined. Public debt-to-GDP ratios have also broadly stabilised.
ASEAN will continue to work closely with the UN under the ASEAN–UN Plan of Action for 2026–2030, helping translate commitments to social development into concrete and sustainable outcomes and bring tangible improvements to people's lives, particularly those of vulnerable groups, Ambassador Do Hung Viet affirmed.
Malaysian Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Arthur Joseph Kurup said on October 6 as host of the 28th Sub-Regional Ministerial Steering Committee (MSC) Meeting in 2027, Malaysia would use its chairmanship to translate the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution (AATHP) into concrete action by enhancing data sharing, improving law enforcement and cross-border cooperation.
Singapore’s Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu said at the recent launch of the Southeast Asia Climate Outlook Survey 2026 that ASEAN should focus on building up its regional power grid, boosting climate finance and increasing its resilience against climate change impacts.
The potential of intra-ASEAN trade remained largely untapped. The bloc’s 11 countries have total trade of 4.37 trillion USD, while intra-ASEAN trade reaches only around 800-900 billion USD.
Participants discussed and agreed on strategic solutions to improve cooperation through ASEAN’s multilateral and bilateral mechanisms. They adopted the conference's joint statement and agreed on a draft joint action plan to strengthen cooperation in combating criminal fugitives.
Transnational crime in the ASEAN region, particularly high-tech crime, human trafficking, terrorism, drug-related crime and online fraud, have continued to increase in number and become more complex and serious amid developments in the global and regional situation.
Minister of Public Security General Luong Tam Quang said amid deepening globalisation and international integration, transnational crime in general and crimes committed by wanted persons in particular have become increasingly complex, posing major challenges to law enforcement agencies in the region and around the world.
The meeting, held in the Lao capital of Vientiane from September 28-29, brought together representatives from ASEAN member states and the ASEAN Secretariat to strengthen regional cooperation in information and media.
Vietnam is the resilience story. Its projected growth moderates slightly from its exceptional post-2016 pace, but remains around 5% — a rate that would be remarkable for most advanced economies.
Vice Minister for ASEAN Affairs Milena Rangel said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Timor-Leste is coordinating with other ministries and agencies to develop and finalise necessary legal instruments for integration, with nearly 50 targeted for completion in 2026 - 2027.
The protocol provides for fair treatment of businesses, free movement of investment capital and profits, and compensation for losses caused by war, conflict or other circumstances. It is expected to strengthen legal protection, improve the investment environment and encourage greater investment flows.
