ASEAN seeks a more vigorous role in Asia

On December 15, 2008, the members of ASEAN met in the Indonesian capital of Jakarta to launch a charter, signed in November 2007, with the aim of moving closer to “an EU-style community”.

ASEAN Members

The charter turns ASEAN into a legal entity and aims to create a single free-trade area for the region encompassing 500 million people.

President of Indonesia Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono stated that “This is a momentous development when ASEAN is consolidating, integrating and transforming itself into a community.

It is achieved while ASEAN seeks a more vigorous role in Asian and global affairs at a time when the international system is experiencing a seismic shift,” he added, referring to climate change and economic upheaval.

Nuclear power for ASEAN nations

The Philippines and other members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) are becoming alarmed over the rapid increase of global oil prices and are seriously looking into prospects of building nuclear powered plants to energize the electric needs of the 10 member nations of ASEAN.

The heads of Asean Power Utilities/Authorities (Hapua) Council got together in Manila this week and is forming an ASEAN Power Grid.