Single goal can unite two different worlds

Single goal can unite two different worlds

Hardev Kaur
New Strait Times
Kuala Lumpur

Two continents -- Asia and Europe -- account for 40 percent of
the world's population, 50 percent of the world's GDP, and 60
percent of world trade. Thus when the 39 members of the ASEM --
from Asia and Europe -- "speak with one voice" they are
"extremely powerful".

Therefore, countries in Asia and Europe have been urged to
strengthen multilateralism in dealing with challenges posed by
weapons of mass destruction, terrorism, environment, energy as
well as poverty and infectious diseases.

Foreign Ministers of ASEM meeting in Kyoto last week stressed
the need to deal with "global challenges and cross-border issues"
through multilateralism.

This also means an understanding of the different cultures,
both at the regional and international level, especially in the
post Sept. 11, 2003 period.

To foster a better understanding and appreciation of the
differences and, indeed, the similarities, Indonesia will host a
dialogue on "Deepening of Asia-Europe Dialogue on Global
Challenges".

The dialogue, to be held in Bali in July, could not be better
timed. Despite the world getting increasingly smaller, thanks to
technology and improved communications, there is still a very
wide perception and knowledge gap between the various cultures
and civilizations.

This gap, and the consequent mistrust, between the different
cultures and civilizations must be addressed and bridged in an
open and honest manner. The fact that we live in an increasingly
globalised world lends urgency to this task.

The financial crisis of 1997-1998 showed how quickly
contagion, of whatever hue, can spread from one country to the
next. The bird flu and the SARS outbreak spread rapidly across
oceans and proved how small the world has become.

Then came the Asian tsunami, which had such an instant and
far- reaching impact that it moved people from all over the world
to rush in with aid for the victims in Indonesia, Thailand and
Sri Lanka.

Despite all this, however, there is still a gap in
understanding and perceptions between the different cultures.

This is perhaps best illustrated by a Polish journalist,
Walensa (not his real name), when he asked "Are you afraid of an
emerging China?"

"No," replied a journalist from a Southeast Asian country.

"Why not?" asked Walensa, looking puzzled. "The Americans are
(afraid)," he added.

He was also perplexed why Malaysians were not afraid of the
many Chinese in their midst. "Will not the Chinese in Malaysia
shift their allegiance to the Middle Kingdom once China emerges
as a major power and create problems for Malaysian authorities?"
he asked. When told "No", he was even more confused as his theory
of chaos and unrest caused by the emergence of China had just
been thrown out of the window.

The Southeast Asian journalist told Walensa that perhaps the
Americans and Europeans do not understand the Chinese and Asians
as well as they like to think they do.

The obsession of the West with a rising China is
understandable. They see it as a threat to their own supremacy on
the world stage.

Obviously, Europeans and Asians look at the same issue through
different prisms. These differences are well explained by
Mahbubani in his book.

Michael Reiterer, an Austrian diplomat based in Brussels who
headed the ASEM desk of the European Commission, asks: "Asia-
Europe: Do They Meet?"

Rudyard Kipling had declared that "East is East, and West is
West, and never the twain shall meet".

When these questions are asked, some notice only the
differences while others see opportunities.

The ASEM foreign ministers meeting in Kyoto were upbeat about
the future of their two regions. They noted that the close
cooperation and rapport enabled them to discuss issues, no matter
how contentious, in a frank and friendly atmosphere.

Undoubtedly, the international community faces challenges that
need to be tackled through global cooperation.

In doing so, it is equally important to understand each
other's culture and approach to issues.

In this context, the ASEM Foreign Ministers confirmed their
commitment to multilateralism and to a fair, just and rule-based
international order with the United Nations playing the central
role to effectively address new global challenges and threats.

Mindful of the rapid changes taking place and the challenges
these pose, the ministers are committed to revitalizing the ASEM
process and strengthening multilateralism.

They were also mindful of the need for sustainable development
in the integration process of the two regions.

Even though Europe has had a head start over Asia in
integration, there is still no real, single "European identity".

This prompted Henry Kissinger, former United States Secretary
of State, to ask whether anyone could give him the telephone
number for Europe. No one could do so some 25 years ago. There
still is no telephone number.

Similarly, there is yet to be a single telephone number for
Asia. But this lack of a single telephone number each for Europe
and Asia does not stop them from working together.