47th ASEAN Economic Ministers' Meeting kicks off

From Aug 22 to 25, economic ministers from Southeast Asia will iron out details for the AEC - a plan for a single market and production base among the 10 member states of ASEAN. The deadline to formally launch the regional trading bloc is Dec 31, 2015. More than 91 per cent of the AEC blueprint measures have been implemented, with another 46 measures to go. Despite the economic challenges facing all ASEAN states, the countries are committed to staying the course of regional economic integration.