9 Toward an Integrated, Poverty-Free, and Peaceful East Asia

As one of the world’s most rapidly growing regions, East Asia has increasingly become a major force in the world economy. However, the potential of East Asia has not been fully realized. East Asian markets are still fragmented. The need to eliminate systemic poverty remains the single most urgent challenge for many East Asian developing countries. Development gaps are widening across some countries and within some parts of countries. I believe that regional cooperation and integration in East Asia are desirable and necessary to maximize the region’s potential and achieve a vision of an integrated, poverty-free, and peaceful East Asia. This vision has been articulated by the leaders of East Asia on many occasions. In the Joint Statement on East Asia Cooperation, the leaders of the Association of Southeast Asia