Vientiane (AsiaNews) – As the ASEAN (Association of South-East Asian Nations) meeting closed in Vientiane, Laos, attempts to reach a balance could be discerned. This would be between strengthening China's growing economic role in southeast Asia and laying the foundation for a third major trade bloc to compete at global level with NAFTA (North America Free Trade Area) and the European Union.

Present at the tenth Asean meeting held between 25 and 30 November were leaders of the 10 member states (Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam) and representatives of nations which are partners: Australia, New Zealand, Japan, China and South Korea. These last will feature in the setting up of a huge trade bloc which some predict will severely challenge American supremacy in the region.

- The Vientiane summit saw China and ASEAN sign a landmark economic agreement, instrumental in the creation of the largest free-trade market in the world, bringing together economies worth than two trillion US dollars and nearly two billion people. Under the deal, tariffs and customs duties in the area will gradually be removed. The agreement will be phased in at different times, depending on the country in question: before 2010, it will take effect in Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand, and Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam, states which have only recently joined the association, will follow in 2015. Already by 1 July, removal of some tariffs will start. Analysts hold that the expansion of China in south-east Asia poses a threat to American and Japanese interests and could also serve as a weapon to isolate Taiwan and its separatist aims.

-  Among ASEAN countries, the removal of customs duties in 11 key sectors will take place in phases between 2007 and 2012.

-  ASEAN also laid the foundations for free trade with the second largest economy in the world: Japan. Yesterday, Japanese premier, Junichiro Koizumi, and ASEAN nations fixed April as the date to start talks, scheduled to last around two years, on how to cut tariffs between the two sides.

-  The meeting had important outcomes for India too. This country had been invited to participate in the meeting. Yesterday, Indian premier Manmohan Singh, signed an accord with ASEAN held to be a landmark deal. It is estimated that this agreement will pave the way for vastly increased trade between the two sides, with a predicted leap of 13 to 30 billion US dollars by 2007.

Analysts say links with India will offset those with China, seen by many as a threat to their economy and security. During the summit, Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao and India's Manmohan Singh reiterated their intention of reaching agreement over Arunachal Pradesh (an Indian state, territorially claimed by China), even if "the matter – in the words of the Chinese premier – calls for confidence and patience".

- The association does not concern itself with internal problems of individual states. However, news of a one-year extension of the house arrest of Myanmar's democratic leader Aung San Suu Kyi caused embarassment at the meeting. Japan and the Philippines invited the military junta to make concrete steps towards implementing promised democracy. Malaysia was more cautious; the foreign affairs minister said "we do not know what is happening". Thailand said it was confident change would take place. "For now," said Thai Premier Thaksin Shinawatra, "there is no official confirmation of the prolonged imprisonment of Suu Kyi. The official statement signed Monday by ASEAN leaders makes no mention of problems in Myanmar. The country will host the next ASEAN summit in 2006.