1. The Consolidation of an Evolving Regional Architecture: Achieving a More Robust ASEAN   Paul Wesley Chambers A Paper Presented at the 8th Asian Economic Forum, March 16-18, 2012 Hotel Sofitel Phnom Penh Phokeethra Phnom Penh, The Kingdom of Cambodia

2. Asia in the Global Spotlight

3. ASEAN has spearheaded Asian regionalism and identity

4. Questions: First, in general, how can ASEAN consolidate its future?
Second, how can plans for further future evolution of ASEAN be fine-tuned to both cope with emerging challenges and derive maximum benefits from expanding opportunities in the years ahead?
Third, how can the political, economic, security and strategic transformations of the past be strengthened and built upon?
Fourth, how can the establishment of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), the East Asia Summit (EAS) and the ADMM Plus, and the deepening of the ASEAN Plus Three (APT) Cooperation, be used to maximize ASEAN’s strategic repositioning and strengthen its role in the region, for the mutual benefit of all?
Fifth, will ASEAN be able to maintain its centrality in the ASEAN in the APT Cooperation, ARF, EAS, and the ADMM Plus?
Sixth, how will ASEAN continue to position itself in the evolving regional architecture in order to advance its overall strategic interests?

5. ASEAN is swiftly evolving, having crafted an intricate, inter-linking architecture

6. Challenges Facing ASEAN

7. How to Resolve ASEAN’s Challenges and Consolidate ASEAN’s Future:
ASEAN must prioritize demarcation of all intra-ASEAN boundaries and construct a pro-active mechanism for intra-ASEAN boundary disputes
ASEAN states need to build greater cohesion and unity in policies toward non-ASEAN countries
ASEAN needs to consolidate its successes now instead of continuing to build more and more intra-ASEAN organizations.
If ASEAN is to be more people-centric, it needs to give civil society a greater role in pro-active policy formulation and implementation

8. In conclusion------- In answer to the questions posed at the beginning of this paper:
ASEAN needs to construct a more cohesive regional identity, build stronger ties with Asian counties, become a stronger dialogue partner with the international community and thus achieve enhanced regional unity, stability, and agreed-upon, rules-based transparency.
It is of paramount importance that ASEAN states recognize and address the issues and challenges facing ASEAN. Though ASEAN has succeeded in centering itself above and across Asian regionalism, any failure to reach coherence of policy among members may allow alternative Asian regional regimes to supercede ASEAN in the future.

9. Thank you!