Heads of state began arriving Thursday and Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha will fly to Manila Friday for the Asean summit. That means discussion of the disputed South China Sea -- China claims cross over with some Southeast Asian states -- will probably be on the back burner. Instead, talks will focus on trade and investment, and the long-running Asean economic integration process. Beijing has recently improved ties with the Philippines via current President Rodrigo Duterte as well as with Malaysia, while dialling back its rhetoric on the South China Sea. "If you look at the growing trade and investments coming back and forth among the Asean countries and China, it has become a major player and a partner for Asean countries, so that strengthens the future for Asean," he said.

Source: Bangkok Post April 27, 2017 22:18 UTC