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BANGKOK, June 23-- Southeast Asian nations reached a consensus on Sunday to fight against trade protectionism and support the maintaining of a multilateral trade system as they wrapped up the 34th summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Bangkok. "We remained concerned over the unabating tide of protectionism and anti-globalisation sentiments that continue to plague the global economy and put the multilateral trading system under threat," said a chairman's statement released after the summit. Amidst the challenges faced by the World Trade Organization (WTO), there is a need to preserve and strengthen the dispute settlement mechanism as the WTO's unique system in settling trade disputes, said the statement, adding that the ASEAN therefore reaffirmed the strong commitment to upholding an inclusive, transparent, and rules-based multilateral trading system. The 10-member ASEAN also noted the work that is being undertaken to reform and modernize the WTO and reiterated its full support to this endeavor. ASEAN countries said they recognized that the global economy is at an important crossroad with an increasing number of uncertainties and challenges. "In this regard, we reiterated our strong commitment to concluding the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) negotiations within 2019 to reinvigorate international trade and to maintain ASEAN credibility and centrality," the statement said. | 
