Asean leaders vow to uphold multilateralism, international cooperation

Nusa Dua, Bali

ASEAN remains committed to upholding the open and rules-based multilateral trading system that has long underpinned the region's economic growth, and will work together to ensure that no one is left behind in the march for progress, its leaders vowed yesterday.

The 10-member grouping has this past year, amid trade disputes and rising protectionism, been vocal in its support of free and open trade.

And yesterday, its leaders reaffirmed their commitment to multilateralism and international cooperation when they met in Bali, where the meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank h…