CONCLUDING the negotiations for the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) presents the biggest challenge to Thailand as this year’s Asean chair, trade officials said, as little tangible progress has been made in the talks so far.

By all accounts, Laos has performed well and managed its role efficiently, delivering nearly all of its pledges as the chair of Asean. The land-locked country also showed that it can both serve as a bridge between new and old members and at the same time