Why ASEAN Leaders Skipped Davos in 2020?
The 2020 World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland was attended by a number of world leaders. However, ASEAN leaders were conspicuously absent. This begs the question – why did ASEAN leaders skip Davos?
ASEAN Economic Integration
ASEAN, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, is a regional intergovernmental organization. It is made up of Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. ASEAN aims to promote economic growth, social progress and cultural development in the region. In 2015, the ASEAN Economic Community was launched. This economic integration was meant to increase economic growth, create employment, and improve the quality of life for the people of ASEAN. The WEF annual meeting in Davos provides a platform for discussions and collaborations between world leaders and business leaders.
ASEAN Leaders’ Priorities
In 2020, ASEAN leaders had several priorities to focus on, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, and digital transformation. These are all issues that are of utmost importance to the region. Thus, ASEAN leaders chose to prioritize these issues over attending the WEF meeting in Davos. It is clear that ASEAN leaders decided to focus on their own region and its issues, instead of participating in the global discussions in Davos. This is likely due to the fact that ASEAN is a relatively young organization, and it still has a long way to go before it achieves economic integration.
ASEAN’s Future
ASEAN is on the path to economic integration, and the success of this process depends on the commitment of ASEAN leaders and their ability to work together. By focusing their efforts on the issues that are most pressing in their region, ASEAN leaders are showing their commitment to the economic integration process. This is a positive sign for the future of ASEAN. As the region becomes more integrated, ASEAN leaders will be able to better participate in global discussions, such as those that take place at the WEF annual meeting in Davos.
Conclusion
In conclusion, ASEAN leaders skipped the 2020 WEF annual meeting in Davos due to their focus on their own region and its pressing issues. This is a positive sign for the future of ASEAN’s economic integration process. As the region becomes more integrated, ASEAN leaders will be able to better participate in global discussions.
