Asia needs to start considering ways to "deepen" its economic integration while at the same time keeping itself open to parties from outside the region, experts told the March 24 symposium.

East Asia has achieved a high degree of "de facto" market-based integration through establishment of cross-border production networks and now backed by institutional frameworks like free-trade agreements.

But the Asian countries should also look further than mere tariff cuts, and move toward facilitation of services trade and investments, as well as freer movement of capital and labor, said the experts as they discussed how Asia can maintain its economic dynamism.