Thailand's premier has made an impassioned plea against trade protectionism, at the 34th ASEAN Summit in Bangkok. The fallout from the US-China tariff war has dominated the talks, as CGTN's Martin Lowe explains.

The key issue at the summit was global business – and efforts to make progress on what could be the world's biggest trade deal. The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership – proposed by China - is a planned agreement between the 10 countries of ASEAN and six more Asia-Pacific nations. These 16 countries account for a third of all world trade. Negotiations have been given fresh impetus by the US-China trade war, which is impacting many countries in the region. Thailand's prime minister Prayuth Chan-ocha spoke out against protectionism saying it was hurting the multilateral trading system. He said he would further pursue the issue at the forthcoming G20 Summit in Japan.

PRAYUTH CHAN-OCHA THAI PRIME MINISTER "Four ASEAN countries including Thailand will attend the G20 and if China and the US are there also we hope to have a discussion and try to solve this issue because it affects many countries."

The summit discussed strengthening partnerships, promoting connectivity, sustainability and action against marine pollution.

MARTIN LOWE BANGKOK "The Thai prime minister also spoke about climate change, terrorism and transnational crime. If ASEAN did not exist – he said – how would we tackle these challenges?"

Thailand will stage a second ASEAN summit at the end-of-the-year. It hopes to crown its year as ASEAN chair by overseeing the signing of that mega trade deal. Martin Lowe, CGTN, Bangkok.