A senior Philippine economic official said here Friday the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) should unite as one and strengthen their existing ties to rise above the challenges of continuing global trade liberalization.

Donald Dee, chairman of the ASEAN Business and Investment Organizing Committee, made the remarks during the opening ceremony of the fourth ASEAN Business and Investment Summit held here Friday.

Dee said all the challenges confronting the ASEAN countries in today's competitive global markets can be overcome if they bond together and work as unified team.

"Because of the ever-changing dynamics in the global economic system, it now becomes imperative for our ten ASEAN countries to intensify and strengthen our existing ties," Dee said.

"As we accomplish this goal, we will be able to show the world our capabilities and strength as one, unified region," he added.

Dee, who is also the president of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said he believed that the fourth ASEAN Business and Investment Summit is the best platform to prove that ASEAN community is a solid and competitive region.

With the theme "One Caring and Sharing Community: Bring the ASEAN Business to the World," Dee said the business summit will not only highlight the vast opportunities within the region but also showcase the ability of our people to be at par or even surpass global standards.

"Through this summit, we shall send a clear and strong message that our time has come. We now have the chance to become a most formidable and important economic bloc in the global trading system," he added.

He said that resource speakers who are experts in their own areas of discipline shall share their insights in the three-day summit on how best to take advantage of the vast opportunities available within ASEAN.

The Philippines officially announced Friday afternoon to postpone the ASEAN Leaders Summit and their summits with dialogue partnership from Dec. 10-14 to January next year because of " weather disturbance," referring to a coming typhoon expected to hit the area during the originally scheduled summits period.

But the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting, which is converged to prepare documents and agreements for ASEAN and its dialogue partners leaders in the 12th ASEAN Leaders Summit and other related summits, will still proceed until Dec. 10.

Source: Xinhua