SE Asia urged to cooperate

SE Asia urged to cooperate

THAILAND: Leaders of Southeast and South Asian nations urged
quicker, closer cooperation in moving toward long-term economic
goals as the best weapon to counter the perils of globalization.

"We need to be wise to the ways of globalization ... forge
closer cooperation, finding our strength, turning adversity into
prosperity," said Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra as he
opened the first summit of a regional grouping known by the
acronym BIMST-EC on Saturday.

The summit is discussing ways to bring greater prosperity to
the developing economies of member countries.

The leaders agreed that tourism, emphasizing the region's rich
cultural heritage, could be a top revenue earner.

But Mynamar leader Gen. Khin Nyunt shunned the international
clamor for the release of democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi by
completely ignoring the issue in his speech. -- AP/AFP