Integration Level for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations （ASEAN） Economic Community

The time has come for the constitution of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations （ASEAN） economic community and many facts have been analyzed regarding this topic. This paper presents the results of the statistical analysis applied to several economic parameters which firstly show how their integration pattern adjusts with a considerable good fitting to the optimum currency area model and to its extended version by Behrens; and secondly how the 10 members of this group are moving at relatively same speed in spite of their differences, that are also inferred for ranging.

Destination Branding： Brand Management and Brand Engagement of Health and Wellness Tourism in Thailand and the ASEAN Region

The 10 ASEAN CAssociation of Southeast Asian Nations） countries in Southeast Asia have been united for ASEAN community in 2015. Thailand is one of the members who take health and wellness tourism responsibility about tourism and product information, and health and wellness tourism standardization. Therefore, the researcher has studied in health tourism image in Thailand and ASEAN, because the image is significant cost to promote health and wellness tourism. They are factors that influence image management and also image attributes about health and wellness tourism in Thailand and ASEAN countries. In this study, the author aimed at the examination of influenced factors and the attributes for Thailand＇s and ASEAN＇s images of health and wellness tourism management and finding out the relations among cognitive, affective, and brand engagement in Thailand and ASEAN. This research could be used as guideline information for creation of plans and governmental policies of health and wellness tourism of Thailand and ASEAN region as well. The data obtained in this study included overall image and destination brand engagement, or personal engagement through way of life and daily life of Southeast Asian people. Southeast Asia has its uniqueness according to its slogan ASEAN Southeast Asia： Feel the Warmth. This is considered as one of unique activities in health and wellness tourism. Tourists can have their direct experiences with unique tradition of each nation.

Economics of Nitrogen Use in Cereal Systems in South and East Asia

A literature survey and focused interviews with experienced agronomists and socio-economists from south, east, and southeast Asian countries were conducted to determine physical and economic relationships of cereal yields and N use, using partial factor productivity （PFP） and nitrogen （N） response functions, while considering the impacts of （N） and crop grain prices. The data were drawn from FAOSTAT, World Bank, and survey results from those countries. Rice has the greatest PFP-N （70 kg grain kg^-1 N）, wheat a moderate （57 kg grain kg^-1 N）, and maize the lowest PFP-N （52 kg grain kg^-1 N） at current application levels. At potential optimal N use rates, estimates for PFP-N were 26 kg grain kg^-1 N for maize, 25 kg for rice and 16 kg for wheat. Assuming a constant average PFP-N （30 kg grain kg^-1 N） for these cereals, it is estimated that 13 Mt N would be needed to meet a projected food demand by 2020 assuming no use of other additional inputs. Assuming a 20% increase in nitrogen use efficiency （NUE） to 36 kg grain kgl N, 10.6 Mt would be needed to meet the food demand, implying an annual growth rate in N use of 1.25%. It is concluded that economically optimal N rates are relatively insensitive to changes in prices of N and cereal grain. Key interventions to improve sustainable food security include increasing N fertilizer use, improving NUE, and reducing environmental impacts.

What Influences Cooperative Motivation of Foreign Brides From Southeast Asian Countries in Taiwan？

Because women in Taiwan have had more and more opportunities to receive higher education and engage in different kinds of work, they have had developed increasingly higher standards for their marriage partners. Men who are in the lower socioeconomic working classes such as those who work in agriculture, or fishing, or who are disabled can no longer compete in local marriage market. As a result, these men have begun to look for their brides from other countries to continue the family line, do the housework, and take care of their parents-in-law. In addition to the fact that these foreign brides are often young and from rural areas, language barriers and cultural differences make it difficult for them to raise and educate their children in Taiwan. The inability of these brides often leads to a higher percentage of children who are developmentally delayed, have poor pronunciation, behavior problems, and low academic achievement. Governmental agencies and schools recognize these issues and have tried to help foreign-born mothers take better care of their children. However, there are several influential factors that can limit the cooperative motivation of these foreign-born mothers, including language barriers, parenting stresses, low socioeconomic status, and cultural limitations. Therefore, governmental agencies and related professionals must take these factors into consideration to provide comprehensive services and a better learning environment.

Internationalized Talents Cultivation of Yunnan and South-Asia Propelled by Joint Efforts of Government, University and Enterprise On International Exchange and Cooperation Among Yunnan and South-Asia Under ＂The Belt and Road Initiative＂

＂The Belt and Road Initiative＂ needs internationalized talents. To deepen the international cooperation of higher education with South-Asia countries depends on the cooperation and joint efforts from government, universities, and enterprises, which aimed at promoting internationalized talents＇ development. What＇s more, they should verify their responsibilities and strengthen their relationships and connects, jointly improving international talents cultivation of Yunnan and South-Asia countries. Therefore, more high quality talents with high identity for ＂The Belt and Road Initiative＂ will be cultivated, which will promote the economic development of Yunnan province and South-Asia countries.

The Effect of Training Package Development for Secondary School Students in Thailand Toward ASEAN Community

The purposes of this research were： （1） to create a training package to prepare secondary school students in northeastern of Thailand toward ASEAN （Association of Southeast Asian Nations） Community; （2） to compare the knowledge of secondary school students toward ASEAN before and after use training package; and （3） the expectations of the students in the northeast of their own preparation for the ASEAN community. Experimental research was used in this research. The subject was including 2,000 students who were randomly divided into groups of seven provinces. The statistics used in data analysis were percentage, average, standard deviation, and T-test. The research results showed that： （1） a training package to prepare secondary school students in northeastern of Thailand toward ASEAN Community, the effectiveness index （E.I.） was .57, according to the established criteria; （2） a comparison of pretest and post-test results found the use of cognitive training may vary, statistically significant at the .05 level; （3） an expectation of the secondary school students in the preparation of role into ASEAN Community found that the students who participated in a concept reflect that the knowledge and attitudes to prepare themselves for the ASEAN community.

Malaysia as the Crossing Point for Illicit Trafficking of Small Arms and Light Weapons {：SALW） to Indonesia： Issues and Challenges

Indonesia, as the largest archipelagic state in the world, shares maritimeborders with many countries including Malaysia in the Straits of Malacca, the South China Sea and the Celebes Sea. Because of its geopolitical location these borders are very porous and, as a consequence, are highly difficult to monitor and control, making it vulnerable spots for illegal activities such as arms smuggling. This paper aims to examine the challenges faced by Indonesia and Malaysia in dealing with the main security border issues. The paper then concludes that Malaysia has become the main route for small arms illicit trafficking from other Southeast Asian countries to Indonesia＇s conflict areas. Indonesia and Malaysia face an enormous challenge, particularly in view of the recent happenings in conflict zones and the increasingly need to secure their common borders.

AEIC: Present and Future Program

The establishment of the ASEAN Earthquake Information Center (AEIC) was endorsed by the 40th Meeting of the Committee on Science and Technology held in October 2000, at the request of the ASEAN Sub-Committee on Meteorology and Geophysics (SCMG) to obtain the ASEAN Standing Committee’s (ASC) approval to officially use the name “ASEAN Earthquake Information Center (AEIC)”. As part of AEIC activities, the SCMG implemented a project on the ASEAN Seismic Network for Rapid Exchange of Strong Earthquake Data (ASNET RESED). The project was implemented by the ASCMG with funding support from the Government of Japan through the Japan ASEAN Co-operation Promotion Program (JACPP). The aim of the project is to facilitate the rapid exchange of data and information on earthquakes with magnitudes greater than 5.5 on the Richter scale, and to link all of the ASEAN National Seismological Centers through the Internet to disseminate earthquake information. For the future program, we propose a seismic data exchange between the National Seismological Centers in ASEAN countries as well as world seismological centers using the facilities in the AEIC. The plan is basically to develop and update the software and hardware in the NSC and AEIC for data communication. To refresh our knowledge in seismology and data communication, we arrange the training sessions for both topics.

Decreasing of Grid-Tied PV Power Output due to Thick Haze Phenomena in Malaysia

Recently, thick haze and poisonous smoke have cloaked the surrounding air in Malaysia due to the uncontrollable and unethical burning of nearby country. This devastating episode of open burning started in the year 1997 in Indonesia which deeply affected most of the ASEAN （association of southeast asian nations） countries especially their neighbour Malaysia and Singapore. The PV （photovoltaic） technology as an alternative means of energy generation experiences such significant energy decrease based on this condition which is due to the shading of sunlight. The 6 h claims of good sunlight has become not more than 2 h and gets worst when the API （air pollution index） struck 200 levels which is at very unhealthy condition. This study embraces some findings from 1 kWp PV generator field data installed in Malaysia reflecting the daily energy decrease operated during this unhealthy weather condition. It is found that, such significant energy decrease with the value of 0.43 W power output per increment of one point API. This value shows such concrete proof of additional factors to be considered in PV modelling in line to support PV technology adaptation in the ASEAN region.

Risk Management Strategies of Vulnerable Rural Households in Southeast Asia： A Case Study from Vietnam

In the Uplands of Southeast Asia, poor and near-poor farm households endure considerable livelihood vulnerability. Access to formal insurance services is scarce. Rural farm households in mountainous Northern Vietnam have developed alternative risk management strategies. This article investigates the theoretical links between poverty, vulnerability and risk. The concept of vulnerability to poverty lays the analytical framework. Based on empirical evidence from more than 200 ethnic minority households, major risks and risk management strategies are presented and analyzed. Results suggest that households suffer from limited endowment with and access to capital assets and service institutions. Human and economic risks （e.g. illness of family members and loss of livestock） were identified as the main components affecting rural livelihoods. Constrained access to adequate risk management strategies increase household＇s vulnerability, drowning them more and more in poverty. Major policy implications are that anti-poverty programs should focus on a broader target group, the currently poor as well as the vulnerable households.

基于智力城镇化的特色小镇产业培育探索——以辽宁通远堡镇为例

我国城镇化正处于劣势的体力城镇化阶段,特色小镇作为新型城镇化的主力军,体力化威胁仍不可避免。为缓解特色小镇体力化困境,文章基于智力城镇化的相关理论,以辽宁通远堡镇为例,围绕特色产业展开智力化培育的探索。结合链式产业思维,以智力投入、智力主体、智力产出三大环节为基础,以智力要素创新性地打造智力链条,构建可持续的特色产业,带动城镇化转型升级,以期为辽宁省乃至全国特色小镇培育提供借鉴。

In Need of Sincerity

The Japanese foreign minister’s statements are unlikely to improve bilateral ties While visiting Bangkok shortly after his"goodwill"trip to Beijing,Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida called on the 10members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations(ASEAN)to be united in response to China’s"assertiveness"in the South China Sea,according to a Kyodo News report.

A More Integrated Southeast Asia

The ASEAN Community sets sail amid both expectations and challengesWith the arrival of 2016,the world will see the Association of Southeast Asian Nations（ASEAN）put its community vision into action—creating a stronger community with economic,security and cultural cooperation at its core.

Modeling the impacts of policy interventions from REDD+ in Southeast Asia: A case study in Indonesia

Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation(REDD+) and enhancing "removals of greenhouse gas emissions by forests" in developing countries through positive incentives is regarded as an essential component of the post-2012 climate regime for stabilizing greenhouse gas emissions and an important way of engaging developing countries in global mitigation efforts. We aimed to evaluate the potential effectiveness of REDD+ by integrating it into a land use option framework. One of our goals was to develop scenarios for evaluating the impacts of land use changes on carbon and environmental processes. In addition, we aimed to quantify the potential economic benefits to society of compensated reductions and to identify hotspots for applying REDD+. Three land use change scenarios were examined:(I) business as usual(BAU),(II) economic development, and(III) REDD+. A case study in Indonesia was examined using these land use scenarios and policy interventions, evaluating their effects on carbon emissions, socioeconomics, and environmental features of a spatial system using land use models. Significant emissions and water erosion reductions were predicted to be achieved under the REDD+ scenario, due to reduced deforestation of <6% over the next decade; >0.14 Mt CO2 e reduction was predicted relative to the BAU scenario. Furthermore, the spatial land use model indicated that REDD+ payments of forest carbon credits in the compliance market would play a key role in compensating rural communities and plantation companies for their opportunity cost in ending deforestation. This study provides an example of integrating land use modeling with a scenario analysis framework to evaluate plausible future forecasts and to evaluate the potential impacts of REDD+.