East Asian integration in sight

China has long advocated signing a friendship treaty with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, in the hope of stabilizing relations on the firm basis of law. It's a promising idea, and it will increase the political trust between the rising country and these key neighbors if it comes into reality. Let's hope progress toward the treaty can be made at the summit.

Wei Ling, director and researcher at the Institute of Asian Studies, China Foreign Affairs University, chinanews.com, Nov 12

Although political disputes and the effects of the financial crisis continue, most East Asian economies are developing stably and improving their structures for new sustainable growth drivers. East Asia now embodies a cooperative spirit and compared with other regions it has better economic performance. Both mean this is the moment to propel regional integration.