An Overview of Economic Cooperation

Regionalism has existed for so many years in various parts of the world, but it has never risen as rapidly as it had in the last decade. Presently, practically all countries are members of at least one regional bloc. It is therefore important to understand why countries, particularly in Asia, have resorted to regionalism against the backdrop of an increasingly globalizing economy; examine the various forms of regionalism that have emerged in Asia; and assess their roles in advancing economic integration