China plan to setup trade centre in Thailand worth $ 1.5 billion; Indonesia announces the ASEAN Summit dates; Indonesia directs attention on human rights as new ASEAN head;
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    • China has planned to build a trading centre in Thailand worth $1.5 billion that will allow traders to re-export Chinese-made goods and avoid costly tariffs. More than 70,000 Chinese traders are expected to operate in the China City Complex in Bangkok, helping them miss levies on products shipped directly from China.1

    As the Indonesia has assumed the ASEAN chair in 2011, the Indonesian Foreign Minister said on January 7, 2011 that his country will host two summits of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) during its chairmanship of the 10-nation bloc this year. Reports noted that ASEAN's 18th and 19th Summits will be held in the capital, Jakarta, on May 7-8 and on the popular resort island of Bali probably in October, respectively.2

    In its role as the new Chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 2011, Indonesia says it will make human rights its top priority. Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa said that Indonesia hopes that during 2011, the ASEAN human rights commission will be more effective in fulfilling its mandate to demonstrate the organization's commitment to respect the basic rights of human beings.3

    Reports noted that in year 2010, Thailand exported an estimated 9.03 million tons of rice in 2010, retaining its decades-old position as the world's top exporter of the grain. Thailand's rice exports last year increased 5 per cent in volume and earned the kingdom an estimated 5.3 billion dollars (S$6.86 billion). Vietnam, Thailand's closest rival in the international rice trade, exported an estimated 6.9 million tonnes last year.4

    In a significant development, reports noted that India and Indonesia will sign an extradition treaty as well as a Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty during the visit of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to India. President Yudhoyono will be the chief guest at the India’s Republic Day parade at New Delhi on 26 January, 2011.5

    The Malaysians of Indian origin have asked India to terminate all present and future business projects with Malaysia. The demand has come at a time when most Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) are keenly looking for business and investment opportunities between India and foreign countries.6

    In other developments, according to the Shanghai officials, it has overtaken Singapore for the first time in 2010 to become the world's busiest container port, as the global economic recovery boosted cargo traffic through China's business centre. Shanghai's port handled 29.05 million 20-foot equivalent units, or TEUs, in 2010 - 500,000 TEUs more than Singapore, the Shanghai government said in a statement.7

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