A larger ASEAN

A larger ASEAN

When ASEAN opens its door to Vietnam in its upcoming foreign
ministers' meeting in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam, at
the end of this week, something close to a black-on-white
contrast will appear on this region's political landscape.
Vietnam is a communist country and the present ASEAN members are
anti-communist. Some of them even still bear deep scars inflicted
in the struggle against the followers of Marxism and Leninism.

But Hanoi has long planned to join the club of Southeast
Asia's newly rich, or semi-rich nations. For Hanoi, this move
does not mean entering terra incognita. After all, Vietnam
understands quite well that the ASEAN member countries have
gained their economic success due to the fact that they maintain
socio-political and economic systems that are different from the
one Hanoi has.

With the clear and strong economic motive behind Vietnam's
efforts in mind, we understand that this Indochinese country
wants to reconstruct its war-torn country and to develop healthy
economic muscle, like its southern neighbors.

It appears clear that Vietnam is intent on learning how to
move up, slowly and in a stable manner, from among the ranks of
the poor countries of the world to those of the newly and rapidly
developing nations, as the ASEAN member countries have over the
last three decades. There is no doubt that Vietnam has the
capacity to learn how to overcome its economic difficulties and
achieve sustainable growth.

But obviously, this will not be easy. Vietnam as a whole and
unified entity has never applied a liberal western economic
system and the Marxist teachings which it has been practicing
have plunged the country into seclusion and stagnated the
economy.

Being in the company of the countries of ASEAN, Hanoi could no
doubt learn many things. But first it needs to push forward
political reform to pave the way for a durable relationship with
the ASEAN members. And in that relationship, flexibility on the
part of Hanoi is an absolute must. After it has conducted its
program of political reform, it must revamp its economic system.

Other steps will follow as Vietnam, perhaps with some
confusion, watches ASEAN's steps toward reducing tariffs among
member countries on most goods to between zero and five percent
by the year 2003.

Only by learning well and quickly will Vietnam prevent itself
from becoming a burden to ASEAN.

On the other hand, ASEAN could benefit from the Vietnamese
membership. With Vietnam becoming a more developed country, this
region is sure to become a stronger area and ASEAN is likely to
become a more respectable regional grouping.

Many countries have been eager to establish good and
profitable cooperation with Vietnam, which has great economic
potential. ASEAN does not want to exploit Vietnam as a mere trade
milk cow, but wants to accept it as a cooperative and equal
partner. There are many fields that could be of advantage to all
sides in a mutually beneficial relationship.

Ideologies can be put aside if both sides establish a way of
working under a comprehensive economic system. And as many ASEAN
countries have learned, the Vietnamese are first and foremost
nationalists, and Marxists only after this. This understanding
should provide a strong basis to pave the way for sound
cooperation.

By opening their door to Vietnam -- and eventually to other
Indochinese countries such as Cambodia and Laos -- the countries
of ASEAN will surely be able to share some valuable experiences.