ASEAN's Wise Men discuss group's future
ASEAN's Wise Men discuss group's future
SINGAPORE (AFP): Prominent representatives of the 10 ASEAN members met for the first time here on Tuesday to ponder the future of a diverse grouping rocked by economic crisis and political problems.
The Eminent Persons' Group (EPG), formed after last December's summit in Hanoi of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), will try to chart a greater global role for the bloc in the 21st century.
"These are difficult and yet challenging times for ASEAN," Foreign Minister S. Jayakumar of Singapore, the current ASEAN chairman, said in remarks opening the EPG talks.
He said the EPG members "have the important and vital task to provide insights and ideas to guide our leaders in planning for ASEAN's future.
"It is a fitting challenge, and given your vast experience and talents as well as diverse background, I am confident that you will be able to offer new perspectives and recommendations for our leaders' consideration."
The so-called "ten wise men" of ASEAN include former ministers, ambassadors and academics. ASEAN comprises Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
The EPG, patterned after advisory groups formed by international organizations seeking independent views on their future, will meet three times over the next 12 to 18 months and submit a report to the heads of government.
It was asked to make recommendations on how to promote peace and stability, develop Southeast Asia into an economic region with free flow of goods, services, investments and capital, and examine ASEAN's role in regional and international affairs.
The EPG members are Brunei's foreign ministry permanent secretary Lim Jock Seng, Cambodian Royal Academy president Sorn Samnang, Indonesian strategic analyst Cornelius P. F. Luhulima, Laotian Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs Phongsavath Boupha, Malaysian Industrial Development Authority chairman Zainal Abidin Sulong, Myanmar's former ambassador to the United States U Ba Thwin, the Philippines' former finance secretary Jesus Estanislao, Singaporean law dean and MP Chin Tet Yung, Thai Senator Mechai Viravaidya, and Vietnam's former UN permanent representative Trinh Xuan Lang.