ABSTRACT
Although international migration has a long history in Asia, it has acquired unprecedented scale, diversity and significance in recent decades. This chapter seeks first to document recent major trends in permanent migration, South-North migration, temporary labour migration, student migration, North-South and South-South migration, marriage migration, feminization of migration and undocumented migration in the Asian region. It argues that there are elements in the existing system and in the region which will lead to the perpetuation and enhancement of international migration, regardless of political and economic change and the interventions of government. Second, the chapter discusses some of the major issues which are emerging in the region in relation to migration between nations, especially diaspora and development, and return migration. Finally, it addresses some important policy issues.
