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