Southeast Asian leaders throw weight behind China-led trade pact

13 Sept 15:38 Key points summarised by AI

Southeast Asian leaders are determined to accelerate the China-led Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) trade deal amid economic uncertainties from the US-China trade war.
The RCEP, involving 10 ASEAN economies plus five other nations, is seen as China's key mechanism to shape Asia-Pacific trade rules following the US withdrawal from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).
Leaders stress the urgency of implementing RCEP to boost regional trade, despite ongoing concerns from India about market flooding and from Australia/New Zealand regarding labor and environmental safeguards.
Beyond trade, the summit also addresses critical regional issues such as South China Sea disputes, the Rohingya crisis, and marine plastic pollution.

Detained Suu Kyi receives UK royal package: Myanmar govt

Today 03:08 Key points summarised by AI

Myanmar's detained Nobel laureate, Aung San Suu Kyi, received a package from Britain's King Charles III, which included two gardening books, a sealed envelope, and diplomatic communication.
The event marked the first release of images of Suu Kyi in two months and saw Myanmar authorities describe her as a "special female prisoner" for the first time.
Suu Kyi, who was deposed in a 2021 military coup that triggered an ongoing civil war, remains under house arrest on charges that rights groups contend are politically motivated.