ASEAN+3 affirm cooperation in trade, infrastructure buildingVIENTIANE — Leaders of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations plus Japan, China and South Korea on Wednesday affirmed increased regional cooperation in trade, investment and infrastructure building. (AP Photo/Gemunu Amarasinghe) / mb.com.phIn a so-called ASEAN Plus Three summit in Vientiane, ASEAN leaders expressed gratitude for Japan’s five-year, USD200 billion worth initiative for investment in high-quality infrastructure in Asia to propel regional integration, according to a senior Japanese official. Abe asked the other ASEAN Plus Three leaders to step up cooperation in resolving the issues of North Korea’s missile and nuclear weapons development and its abductions of Japanese nationals in the 1970s and 1980s. He also called for closer regional coordination in the fight against terrorism, violent extremism and other types of cross-border crimes. The ASEAN Plus Three leaders also affirmed cooperation in areas such as food security and maritime security.

Source: Manila Bulletin September 07, 2016 14:26 UTC