Partnership helps forge economic independence
Partnership helps forge economic independence
Zakki P. Hakim and Muninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The new Asian-African partnership will help developing countries
in both continents achieve economic independence, the United
Nation's special envoy for UN reform, Ali Alatas, has said.
"Political independence without economic independence can in
no way free the teeming millions of the developing world from the
poverty trap they are in," the veteran diplomat said on Tuesday.
During a seminar entitled The Afro-Asian Movement and the
World of Tomorrow, held jointly by The Jakarta Post and the
Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), he pointed
to the fact that many countries from both continents still have
no economic freedom, although the 1955 Bandung spirit had
inspired Asian and African countries to become independent
Most Asian and African countries are still struggling amid the
challenges of their national development agenda, against poverty,
ignorance, disease and the degradation of the environment, he
said.
Some of them are also troubled by debt burdens and their
inability to access the markets of advanced countries or to
compete on the world market.
According to former foreign minister Alatas, the problems are
mostly caused by the imbalances and inequities of international
economic relations.
"There has also been a profound transformation of the world
economic situation as a result of the pervasive phenomenon of
globalization, which has caused the further marginalization of
many countries in Asia and Africa," he said.
The problems widen the divide between the haves and the have-
nots, Alatas added.
He concluded that challenges such as true independence,
justice and equitable development, can only be met if Asian and
African nations summon the necessary political will, pool their
resources and act together in addressing those challenges.
"We have learned that political independence is a necessary
but not an adequate condition for economic freedom," Alatas said.
Delegates from 89 countries in Asia and Africa inked the New
Asian-African Strategic Partnership (NAASP) during the Asian-
African Summit, which concluded last week.
The 1955 Asia-Africa Conference, which was attended by 29
leaders, inspired countries in both continents to gain their
independence.
To date, however, most of the now-independent countries
continue to battle against poverty.
Other speakers in the seminar highlighted various challenges
facing Asian and African countries, particularly in implementing
the partnership envisaged in the summit.
The countries face more complicated challenges as conditions
are markedly different than those of 1955, with most of the
countries having gained independence, the speakers said.
Amitav Acharya from the Singapore-based Nanyang Technological
University said developing an Asian-African framework for dialog
and cooperation was vital in implementing the partnership.
Countries in Asia and Africa must be able to articulate a
normative basis for a regional and international order marked by
"tolerance of diversity, mutual accommodation and the softening
of ideological conflicts and rivalries", he said.
Indonesianist from Australia Jamie Mackie noted that Asia and
Africa are blessed with so many differences, including in
political systems, which could in one way or another hinder
partnerships.
Mackie, nevertheless, noted that he would rather see Asia and
Africa forge closer cooperation without sacrificing their
diversity.