Representatives at the ongoing
Boao Forum for
Asia agreed Friday that Asian economies can stand taller when
working together rather than confronting global economic ups and
downs alone.
However, they urged Asian countries and regions take immediate
action on regionalization instead of just talking about it.
"We need to exchange views,'' said R S Lodha, president of the
Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Yung Chul-park, a South Korean professor at the Department of
Economics with the College of Political Science and Economics said:
"Trade liberalization is of the utmost importance to speed up
regional co-operation.''
Although there are many regional alliances in Asia, they are
restricted to certain areas instead of the whole of Asia, such as
the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation, and the Association of
Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and, therefore, the region is
facing a problem on how best to promote unity.
Instead of moving towards greater unity, the region is fractured
with individual countries pursuing bilateral deals and putting
Asia-wide agreements on the back burner.
In
addition, the region's financial systems are distinguishable from
each other. This is seen as a major problem.
Given their differences, analysts claim efforts for a regional
economic bloc will be slow.
For example, ASEAN has grand plans for free trade -- its ASEAN Free
Trade Area (AFTA) agreement envisages slashing import tariffs
across the region in the next few years.
"Asian countries should link their development strategies to the
overall development strategies of Asia,'' said Paul Dominguez,
presidential adviser for Regional Development in the Republic of
the Philippines.
He
believes governmental support is of vital importance, and will
serve as the catalyst for regional co-operation.
"In addition, the private sector will be a major driving force for
the regional co-operation,'' said Phisit Pakkasem, former
secretary-general of the National Economy and Social Development
Board of Thailand.
As
for the set-up of a regional common currency in Asia in the years
to come, Haruhiko Kuroda, Japan's vice-minister of finance, said it
is unlikely to reach such a currency in the foreseeable future.
"Asia is less likely to have such a currency compared to the euro
in European countries,'' he said.
However, Professor Yung said, under the conditions of trade
liberalization and stable Asian currencies, the single currency in
Asia could be formed in two to three decades.
He
also urged the Japanese and Chinese governments to take the lead in
regional co-operation.
(China
Daily April 13, 2002)