Australasians eye Asia trade pact (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7912358.stm)

The South East Asian Nations (Asean) are signing an agreement during a three-day meeting that begins on Friday with Austalia and New Zealand. The talks of making a free trade zone date back to 2004. The Asean includes Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. Usually this conference is held to focus on human rights, but due to the economic turn of events in the world, this agreement is being discussed.