ASEAN countries have stayed united in facing the many external challenges thus far and this bond can be strengthened further with less bickering among each other in their strive to become a single economic community by end of this year.

With some of the member states having vested interest on the territorial claims in the South China Sea, this may create some dissatisfaction and influence the current progress of ASEAN Economic Community (AEC).

Former ASEAN secretary-general Ong Keng Yong said there was still a lot of work to be done to realise the single economic community by end of 2015 and member states must therefore muster their political will.

“The unity is there, especially when ASEAN has to deal with external parties but among the brothers and sisters of ASEAN, we argue more and dilly-dally often,” he told Bernama in conjunction with the 47th ASEAN Economic Ministers’ Meeting to be held here from Aug 22-25.