Summit heralds united region

Summit heralds united region

By Meidyatama Suryodiningrat

BANGKOK (JP): In an unprecedented event, leaders of the 10
nations in the region gathered here yesterday to map out the
beginnings of a united Southeast Asia.

Though brief, the meeting at the Royal Orchid Sheraton Hotel
was a milestone in the region's history with many pointing to it
as the embryo of a united Southeast Asia under ASEAN.

The meeting brought together leaders of the Association of
Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) -- Brunei's Sultan Hassanal
Bolkiah, Indonesia's President Soeharto, Malaysia's Prime
Minister Mahathir Mohamad, Philippines' President Fidel Ramos,
Singapore's Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong, Thailand's Prime
Minister Banharn Silpa-Archa and Vietnam's Prime Minister Vo Van
Kiet with non-ASEAN members in the region such as Cambodian joint
Prime Ministers Norodom Ranariddh and Hun Sen, Laotian Prime
Minister Khamtay Siphandone and Myanmarese Prime Minister Than
Shwe.

"The close rapport and understanding we established has paved
the way for the early realization of our vision of the ASEAN
community of 10 nations," said Goh Chok Tong of the meeting.

As Laos' Khamtay Siphandone said, the dynamic growth of the
region was achieved thanks to ASEAN's ability to avoid
misunderstandings and boost cooperation.

It is expected that these three nations will become ASEAN
members by the end of the decade.

Banharn also said the meeting with the CLM, the popular term
for Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar (formerly known as Burma), would
help accelerate the vision set by ASEAN's founders.

"I warmly welcome the goodwill and seriousness the three
countries have demonstrated towards ASEAN," Banharn said.

Though nothing tangible came out of the meeting, by all
accounts it helped to create better understanding and underline
the commitment and spirit of ASEAN to help CLM.

The heads of government of the 10 nations agreed that to
achieve a prosperous Southeast Asia the most appropriate approach
is to boost economic linkages and develop interdependence among
all nations in the region.

Realizing the momentum created by this meeting, the leaders
identified the main objectives for cooperation.

The first is to strengthen the feeling of unity by involving
the CLM in more ASEAN activities along with the sharing of
experience and knowledge through various collaborations such as
exchange programs, training and research.

The ASEAN leaders also stressed the importance of facilitating
the CLM's transition into market economies to help hasten
economic growth and development.

Furthermore, as future members of ASEAN, the CLM must be
prepared to enter the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA).

According to Goh Chok Tong, the CLM could face difficulties in
meeting the requirements of AFTA. "They will also face difficulty
in discharging their manifold obligations within ASEAN including
AFTA," he said.

To boost economic growth, Goh proposed ASEAN-sponsored
measures to help development in the Mekong Basin.

Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas told
journalists that the heads of state had reached an agreement to
help develop the countries in the Mekong Basin: China, Cambodia,
Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam.

Despite the apparent enthusiasm yesterday, there was still
confusion whether the CLM countries would be invited to ASEAN's
informal Summit in Indonesia next year.

While Alatas said CLM's participation would still need further
consultation, Malaysia's Mahathir said he had little doubt the
three countries would be present for the informal summit.