The article discusses how countries like Vietnam and Mexico have joined regional trade agreements to boost their economies. These agreements help them attract foreign investment and grow in the long run. The researchers compare the experiences of these countries in the Asia-Pacific region to understand the impact of these agreements on their economic growth. They found that linking with more developed countries in the same region can help developing countries like Vietnam and Mexico attract more foreign investment and improve their economies. This new approach to regional integration is different from older methods and can benefit developing countries in the long term.