Tariffs serve as a point at ASEAN Summit

Leaders from the ten South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) arrived in Phnom Penh for the opening of the 21st Summit.

The delegates were joined among others by Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao later Sunday, and will welcome US President Barack Obama on Monday. On the agenda of the high level talks are security issues, ASEAN enlargement and trade.

The Summit will continue for three days, incorporating the leaders from Republic of Korea, Japan and China, and on Tuesday, the United States, Russia, India, Australia and New Zealand.

According to the host, Prime Minister Hun Sen, they must not loose sight of the nations at ASEAN's core. Cambodia is seeing growth rates at over 7 percent of GDP, in part due to its integration in the ASEAN bloc.

Lim Sreyoun has a small business selling curtains in Phnom Penh. Most of her material suppliers are in China, although she also imports from Thailand.

ASEAN free trade agreements have made it easier for her to import, but she would like to see tariffs further reduced, for the cost of transportation is still high.

As the delegates get down to talk in Phnom Penh's Peace Palace, the economic integration could make this the largest trading bloc in the world by 2015.