China, Japan and SKorea leaders at ASEAN summit

The leaders of China, Japan and South Korea attended the summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations on Monday in Nonthaburi, Thailand. South Korea's President Moon Jae-in gave a speech in which he emphasised protecting free trade from what he called "headwinds," while China's Premier Li Keqiang praised the ASEAN+3 formula for boosting economic growth both in the region and around the world. Leaders from fast-growing Southeast Asian economies, China and other regional powers vowed to transcend conflicts over trade policies and territorial disputes for the sake of stronger economies and regional stability. The ASEAN meeting's host, Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, said the group aims to reach a basic agreement on plans for what may become one of the world's biggest trade blocs.