SE Asia urged to cooperate to counter globalization ills
SE Asia urged to cooperate to counter globalization ills
Agencies, Bangkok
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, which include Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Thailand.
Other leaders, including Myanmar's Prime Minister Gen. Khin Nyunt and Bangladesh's Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia, called on BIMST-EC to be more pro-active.
Topping the agenda are talks on tourism, traditional medicine and energy investment. Also up for discussion are investment opportunities in aviation, transport and the technology sectors, exchanges of know-how and new opportunities in agriculture and fisheries.
The leaders agreed that tourism, emphasizing the region's rich cultural heritage, could be a top revenue earner.
Khin Nyunt said tourism could help alleviate poverty by creating job opportunities and higher income in rural areas.
But the Mynamar leader shunned the international clamor for the release of democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi by completely ignoring the issue.
Khin Nyunt spoke only of Asian economic cooperation and extolled the beaches, mountain ranges and attractions of Myanmar, which has been hit by an informal tourism boycott because of the military's democracy crackdown.
Khin Nyunt used his speech to highlight close links with the country's Asian neighbors -- compared to the United States and Europe which have led criticism of the regime.
"It is indeed an honor and a pleasure for me to take part in today's historic meeting to exchange views on how to further strengthen our cooperation," he was quoted as saying by AFP.
In a meeting with Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra on Friday, General Khin Nyunt said Aung San Suu Kyi would be released at a time of the regime's choosing.
The need to seek new sources of energy to meet growing demands in expanding economies was also emphasized.
BIMST-EC was initiated by Thailand seven years ago with the aim of enhancing the region's economic growth and gaining bargaining power in the global trade arena.