东盟现在是一个综合的经济区

It's seen as a coming of age for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, better known as ASEAN. As the 10 leaders prepare for their summit in Kuala Lumpur tomorrow, ASEAN is ready to declare that it has achieved its goal of forging an integrated economic community, with nearly all import and export tarrifs between member countries now eliminated. But that doesn’t mean trade barriers no longer exist.

In many ways, it has been a testing year for ASEAN. Several challenges have strained ASEAN's cohesiveness and credibility, including the exodus of Rohingya Muslims from Myanmar who have been fleeing to Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia, and the slow response to the haze from land clearing fires in Indonesia that choked neighbouring countries.

"When you have problems which are multilateral, which go beyond even bilateral or internal boundaries, like the South China Sea issue, the haze issue, then, yes, its weaknesses are coming to the fore," said Keith Leong, political analyst, KRA Group.

There have been economic successes though. An estimated 96 per cent of all tariffs between ASEAN countries have now been eliminated. Some industries such as automaking have been quick to grasp the opportunities that brings, sourcing parts from across the region. Other sectors such as agriculture, and small and medium enterprises, far less so.

"A lot more information needs to be disseminated. People in ASEAN need to be make more aware of what ASEAN offers. There is a lack of ASEAN consciousness among the people of ASEAN, and what benefits ASEAN can bring," said Michael Yeoh, from Asian Strategy & Leadership Institute.

Also, many obstacles to true economic integration remain such as local excise taxes, quotas and restrictions on foreign ownership.

"The problem we are facing now is actually non-tariff barriers. We know, everybody knows what they are. There are some moves to try to resolve them but it needs a stronger will of countries," said Saw Choo Boon, president of Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers.

On Sunday, ASEAN leaders will formally declare the creation of an ASEAN Economic Community. They will also set out ASEAN's goals for the next decade -- dubbed Vision 2025 -- which will aim to take regional integration, resilience and competitveness to the next level.

The challenge for the leaders will be to translate the lofty goals of that vision into concrete benefits the people of ASEAN can see for themselves.