ASEAN meeting targets integration

ASEAN meeting targets integration

Ian Mader, Associated Press/Vientiane

Reclusive Laos cordoned off its capital Thursday as it opened its first-ever major conference, drawing together Asian nations in their aspirations for European-style economic integration while addressing terrorism and other regional threats.

Security checkpoints around Vientiane blocked any troublemakers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) meeting, following two bomb blasts this month at the Thai border that injured nobody but sparked security fears in this small and normally placid communist nation.

The agenda included a free trade accord between Southeast Asia and China, an anti-terrorism pact and efforts by Myanmar's neighbors to spur its stalled moves toward democracy to end unwelcome international attention on the region's human rights record.

Senior officials from ASEAN's 10 members gathered in Vientiane to prepare for leaders summits on Monday and Tuesday, grouping the core countries with partners China, Japan, South Korea, India, Australia and New Zealand in the region's major annual meeting.

European Union-style integration is a huge challenge, especially for Southeast Asia, where standards of living vary widely and governments range from Brunei's absolute monarchy to Thailand's fledgling democracy.

"EU countries are almost the same, including their living standards and their human resources, but our region is still so different," said Boualith Khounsy, the Laotian Finance Ministry official for ASEAN affairs.

Laotian hosts hope to use their debut to attract more sorely needed foreign investment and tourism to their landlocked and impoverished country of only 5 million people.

The government tried to put the best possible face on Vientiane, the sleepy and dusty capital on the Mekong River.

ASEAN nations have been working on a free trade area for their region's 530 million people and its combined economy of US$1 trillion (765 billion euros), and at a summit last year agreed to create a European-style economic community by 2010.

They want to create a consistent production base across the region to attract foreign investment that is now being siphoned off by neighboring giants China and India.

At the same time, ASEAN is seeking closer economic ties with those countries.

ASEAN and China are to sign an accord on Tuesday to set up a free trade area aimed at removing tariffs on merchandise goods by 2010. The two sides would begin tariff cuts in 2005.

Despite a long tradition of avoiding interference in each other's domestic affairs, ASEAN members may seek to cite Myanmar over its dismal rights record in this year's summit statement, Thai officials have said.

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