ASEAN has done much to contribute to peace,
stability and prosperity in the CLMV countries by
promoting initiatives to improve the development
gaps and reducing poverty in the lesser-developed
countries. However the effect of Asia financial crisis
coupling with the global slowdown has left many
nations in Asia lag behind in their national economic
development. In Southeast Asian region, the CLMV is
still witness profound disparity between the ‘haves’
and the ‘have-nots’. Well-off country needs to help
lesser one from breakdown so as to promote
prosperity for the region as a whole. To achieve
greater stride in this endeavor, ASEAN and other
development partners should continue to work
together to achieve even more positive outcomes