The Library Media — National & World · World Desk
ASEAN Signs Its First Region-Wide Digital Economy Pact as Leaders Gather in Manila
By Catalina Clarke
ASEAN’s member states have signed the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement, the region’s first region-wide digital economy pact, the Straits Times reports. The agreement takes effect from early 2027.
The pact aims to harmonise digital trade rules, e-commerce, data flows, digital payments and cybersecurity standards across ASEAN’s 10 member states — a market of about 680 million people.
The signing took place in Manila, Philippines, where Southeast Asian leaders were arriving for the ASEAN summit hosted and chaired by the Philippines, Anadolu Agency reports. The summit agenda includes regional economic integration, the digital economy and South China Sea issues.
The agreement gives the bloc a single framework for the digital trade that now runs through every one of its economies, replacing a patchwork of national rules with shared standards its members negotiate together.
Malaysia’s foreign minister said this week that ASEAN and China should redouble efforts to finalise the South China Sea code of conduct, saying the talks are nearly 90 percent complete and pushing for a deal this year — an attributed watch-level report carried by the Malay Mail.
Quad leaders are also due to meet in Manila on November 17, on the summit’s margins.
No signing-ceremony time and no list of signatory ministers was given in the reporting read for this piece.
Catalina Clarke
Editor-in-Chief, The Library Media
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