ASEAN in 40 years: New developments in the region and the outlook for Vietnam

Abstract

Ten years after the regional financial-monetary crisis, “Renaissance” is a new concept defining the development of East Asia, a region in which ASEAN is keeping a role as a linking axis. By sticking the on-going situation with an epoch-making concept of the mankind’s history the Renaissance era authors of a study titled “An East Asian Renaissance: Ideas for Economic Growth” recently launched by the World Bank had highly appreciated the outlook as well as possible contribution by East Asia to the world’s future. Counting on an ASEAN perspective and such high appreciation, the author of this article raised a question: with its historical significance, how is the Renaissance concept associated with ASEAN, apt for ASEAN when this grouping is round 40 years old?
As for Vietnam, a 10-year old member of ASEAN, in the eve of new opportunities, considerably great and unfolding, what does such appreciation signify?
According to the author, in a swiftly developing situation at all levels: global, Asian, and East Asian and in ASEAN itself it is necessary to have the above-raised questions. The aim is to seek for new approaches and development alternatives apt for both ASEAN and Vietnam who playing an increasingly crucial role in ASEAN.
This article attempts to contribute to answering these questions which are limited to issues relevant to East Asia and ASEAN; it concentrates on analyzing common trends in East Asia, the rise of China a new development, new developments in ASEAN, and Vietnam’s issues.