Experiences from the current and past financial crises, the imperatives of more broadly based and equitable social and economic development, and other regional priorities like counter-terrorism, drugs and disease control, and environmental protection, support the value of regional cooperation and integration, both sub-regionally in the Greater Mekong Subregion, and regionally in ASEAN and the broader ASEAN +3 or East Asian region. Particular value is attached to the benefits that increased regional trade, trade facilitation and transport and essential infrastructure both ‘hard’ and ‘soft’, can bring to economic and social development and to ‘bridging the development gap’ in ASEAN and East Asia...