ASEAN, as a region, is more geographically dispersed and not physically contiguous compared to China
and India. More importantly, compared to these two nations, ASEAN consists of ten Member States with
disparate policies, priorities and institutions. Enhanced ASEAN connectivity helps address these relative
disadvantages of the ASEAN region and at the same time engenders a more cohesive, competitive,
investment-attractive, resilient, and dynamic economic community in the ASEAN region.