The aspiration and strategies of Asian and African countries
The aspiration and strategies of Asian and African countries
Han Sung-Joo, Jakarta
Even though most of us, Asian and African countries are still
trying to catch up with what we used to call the "First World" in
the economic area, we can see so much has changed between the
first and second Asian-African Summit, 50 years apart, in the
tenet, purpose and rationale of the two meetings.
The representative slogans of the first meeting were anti-
imperialism and non-alignment. Today, the corresponding slogans
are development and cooperation. Ideology, especially anti-
colonialism was an important element of the gathering in Bandung.
Today, the catch words are human security and shared
prosperity. In short, the leaders got together in 1955 against
something or some things, whereas this year their successors meet
in the name and for the purpose for something and some things.
This is significant as indeed the world is facing problems
more complicated and intractable than it did 50 years ago.
First the task of eradicating poverty and bringing about
prosperity remains as serious and urgent, especially in Africa.
Second, we have global problems of terrorism and proliferation
of weapons of mass destruction. Terrorism, in itself, is
dangerous and serious enough, but combined, they can result in
catastrophic consequences, anywhere in the world, developed or
less developed, North or South, West or East.
Third, we have growing human security crises, what with
environmental degradation resource depletion, contagious
diseases, drugs, human trafficking, and human rights violations.
From Cambodia in the 1970s, to Rwanda in the 1990s, and Darfur
today, genocide and ethnic cleansing brings about the dilemma and
conflict between human or individual sovereignty and state
sovereignty.
The world is facing all these problems as it has undergone and
is still undergoing changes -- changes of such fundamental nature
that they present unprecedented challenges and opportunities. We
should recognize the challenges and grab the opportunities.
First, the world is increasingly being globalised. As the
problems, whether they are terrorism, HIV, environment, or
finance, are being globalised, the answers can be found in only
global responses.
Second, even as the world is being globalised, regional
groupings are becoming increasingly more important. The European
Union, either with or without a new constitution, is an
accomplished fact. North America's Free Trade Area, NAFTA, is
expanding toward South, encompassing the Southern half the
hemisphere. East Asia is, slowly but steadily, moving towards a
community, with plans to hold the first East Asian Summit in
December this year. FTAs are being negotiated and agreed upon,
supplanting and complementing WTO arrangements.
Third, the world is being democratized, both domestically and
internationally. More and more countries, including our host
country Indonesia, are becoming fully democratic, with free
elections, liberal press and active NGOs.
International organizations are becoming more democratic, the
most recent evidence being the momentum to reform the United
Nations.
Fourth, global relations are becoming increasingly more
multilateralised. Globalization and regionalization require
multilateral negotiations, agreements and cooperation. Even as
unilateralism is still very much present in global politics, and
bilateralism still an important feature of international affairs,
multilateralism is rapidly and steadily becoming the mainstay of
global relations.
Finally, international relations is being diversified. By
this, I mean the role of NGOs, the civil groups and research
institutes, educational institutions and religious organizations
is becoming more and more important. Just as importantly, if not
more so, businessmen/women and business organizations establish,
expand or curtail relations. They trade, they invest, they
negotiate, they make networks and they contribute to expansion of
economic relations and economic development and growth.
The Asia-African Forum, held in Bandung in 1994, identified
several areas of cooperation focus between Asia and Africa, they
include: Human resources and international development; Enhancing
productivity in agricultural center; Financing development;
Mobilizing domestic and international resources; Private sector
development; Promoting Asian investment in Asia; Trade
development; Managing African debt crisis and building Asian-
African networks.
All this is fine. But two points should be added. Indeed, two
points that need to be emphasized if the cooperation in those
special areas of focus are to be successful.
The first point is that the private sector cooperation should
be emphasized. Governments come and go and may pursue their
policy objectives, sometimes for the publicly proclaimed
purposes, and sometimes for other reasons. Private sector acts
and moves on the basis of perceived interest which tends to be
longer lasting and less changeable. Obviously, the private sector
cannot replace governments, but its role is crucial and
important.
The second point is that Asian-African cooperation cannot be
successful unless we can also mobilize the support and
participation of and networking with non-Asian-African countries.
Especially, the United States will be helpful in the security
area, Europe in the economic area, and both in the human security
areas.
Meetings, agendas, and moving speeches are fine, but
ultimately, what we need are concrete actions and steps in
specific areas. This should be done in cooperation with the
countries and regions with the abilities, means, interests as
well as states for such cooperation.
Ultimately, the rationale for Asia-Africa cooperation, now
known as NAASP (New Asia-Africa Strategic Partnership) is not
anti-colonialism, poverty or non-alignment as it used to be.
As the regions of the world form networks, between Asia and
Europe with ASEM, America and Europe with NATO, Asia and America
with APEC, Asia and Africa cannot be left out. They need to fill
the missing link, for joint prosperity, peace and progress in
cooperation with the rest of the world.
Prof. Han Sung-Joo presented this paper during a seminar held
by The Jakarta Post on Tuesday. He is the President of Ilmin
International Institute, Korea University and also former
minister of foreign affairs of South Korea.