Promising future of ASEAN, Türkiye relations: Op-ed

8th August 2022 marks an important occasion of the 55th anniversary of ASEAN (the Association of Southeast Asian Nations), an intergovernmental organization of 10 member states in Southeast Asia (Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Viet Nam), founded in Bangkok in 1967. Meanwhile, 5th August represents a significant milestone for the 5th anniversary of Türkiye-ASEAN Sectoral Dialogue Partnership, approved in Manila in 2017. The closer ties between ASEAN and Türkiye will be beneficial in responding to challenges and seizing new opportunities in the rapidly changing geopolitical and economic landscape.

ASEAN's importance in global landscape

ASEAN, conceived as a political union of five founding nations for peace and stability in the region, has evolved into a regional community that encompasses three key dimensions, political-security, economic and social-cultural, with the core spirit of "One Vision, One Identity, One Community." ASEAN is one of the fastest growing regions in the world.
Effective from Jan. 1, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), the world-largest trading bloc, has strengthened ASEAN position as a gateway to the market of 2.2 billion people and $26.2 trillion of global output, covering about 30 percent of the world population. RCEP comprises 10 ASEAN countries and five Asia-Pacific countries (China, Japan, Republic of Korea, Australia and New Zealand), firmly putting ASEAN as an attractive region for global business communities.

ASEAN-Türkiye sectoral dialogue partnership is an important framework for strengthening the ties between ASEAN and Türkiye. The partnership's wide-ranging coverage of issues allows both sides to...