Final answer:
The ASEAN+3 meeting aimed to establish economic cooperation and promote trade among its members. This aligns with ASEAN's history of pursuing economic growth and resisting communism, while APEC members, including ASEAN countries, focus on trade and economic cooperation to boost their economies and standards of living.
Step-by-step explanation:
The first meeting of the members of the ASEAN+3 was primarily focused on creating a system aimed at fostering economic cooperation and promoting trade between the member countries. This initiative is in line with the historical context of ASEAN, which was originally founded by Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand in the 1960s for economic cooperation and to prevent the spread of communism in Asia. The organization has grown over time, advocating for stronger regional integration similar to the European Union.
Countries that belong to APEC share a commitment to encouraging free trade and international economic cooperation. APEC's establishment was largely in response to the emergence of regional trading blocs like ASEAN and the EEC, suggesting that member nations saw mutual benefit in coordinating their trade policies to enhance economic growth, use their own labor and resources more effectively, and ultimately improve the standard of living.
The Asian nations involved in ASEAN are dedicated to utilizing their collective resources to achieve national wealth and higher living standards, while contending with the challenges of globalization. Major historical shifts post-World War II, including the formation of trading blocs like the EU, ASEAN, and APEC, along with agreements like NAFTA and USMCA, have facilitated the operations of multinational corporations (MNCs) and contributed to global economic prosperity and peace, particularly in developing countries.