All Asean members recognised they could not just be 'disconnected, scattered' national economies, but needed to draw closer together to be more attractive and relevant to the world. -- ST PHOTO: JOYCE FANG

Filipino songsters crooned as hundreds of business and political leaders gathered on Friday for an Asean reception, which followed a plenary session in the cavernous Congress Hall.

They had come to hear several Asean leaders spell out their plans to draw their 10 countries together.

This was the first time Asean has taken such a high profile at the World Economic Forum, held in this picture-postcard alpine ski resort, where policy makers and shapers get together for an annual brainstorming session.

Participants had found, on arriving in Davos, little gold-ribboned black boxes in their hotel rooms. Inside, was a flash drive with a video on Asean, a gift from Singapore, as the current chair of the regional group.

Taking the lead in making the pitch for the 40 year old group, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong told the audience that the current Asian renaissance 'was not just about China and India'.

All Asean members recognised they could not just be 'disconnected, scattered' national economies, but needed to draw closer together to be more attractive and relevant to the world.

The new Asean Charter, signed last November, would help make the group a more rules-based organisation, with a streamlined decision making process. The Asean economic blueprint also detailed a roadmap to integrate the countries economies, he noted.

Declaring that Asean's fundamentals were strong, he told his audience: 'We are resolved to make ourselves relevant to new Asia. So when you think of Asia, besides south Asia and east Asia, please also think of south-east Asia, think of Asean.'

Read the full story in tomorrow's edition of The Sunday Times.