WEF on ASEAN: Trade, regional disputes supersede agenda

Embracing new technology was supposed to be the theme of the meeting of Asian nations, but the US-China trade war is dominating the agenda as leaders of South East Asian countries meet in Vietnam.

Asian leaders meeting at the World Economic Forum in Vietnam have made veiled criticisms of the United States, which is involved in a worsening trade dispute with China.

The criticism was led by China’s vice premier who said protectionism must be rejected.

Southeast Asian nations have made it clear that they favour China’s multilateral trade approach to Washington’s bilateral deals.

Al Jazeera’s Wayne Hay reports from the Vietnamese capital Hanoi.