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.