The BOAO Forum for Asia
and the World Bank organized
a day-long seminar in Beijing Monday, at which they stated their
intention to collaborate on a three-year program of economic
studies and the promotion of international networks of expertise on
Asian economic cooperation and integration.
The seminar was organized in two parts, the first marked by a
discussion on the findings of a recent World Bank publication, East
Asia Integrates.? The session was opened by Mr. Long Yongtu,
Secretary General of the Boao Forum and Mr. Yukon Huang, Country
Director for China at the World Bank.? It was attended by
representatives of regional organizations, ambassadors from Asian
countries and others involved in the Boao Forum's activities, and
Chinese government officials, together with participants from think
tanks, academic institutions and the media.
"Economic integration has become a necessity for all regions to
cope with the challenges of the world economy today", said Mr.
Long, "and we would like to ensure its success in Asia."?
Messrs. Long and Huang mentioned that the reason for the two
institutions to come together is to support the cause of regional
cooperation by providing robust intellectual underpinnings for
decisions regarding economic integration, regional policies and
institutions.? In this connection, the Boao Forum and the
World Bank intend to foster a more intense network of expertise
within both the developed and developing countries, working towards
strengthening Asian regional integration.? Mr. Long stressed
that the Boao Forum is poised to become a leading and respected
voice on Asian economic cooperation.? "A sound program of
analytical and policy studies, combined with? active
interchanges among experts is required to support the various
debates that are currently taking place on Asian economic
integration.? The Boao Forum, with its extensive involvement
in such issues and ability to reach the highest level of
policymakers, and the World Bank, with its tradition of development
research, international experience, and reputation for
capacity-building, are uniquely placed to support such
efforts."
"Specifically," according to Mr. Huang, "the development agenda
for the region - with its focus on growth, jobs, and social
stability - and the trade policy agenda - with its focus on market
access and competitiveness - are closely linked."? He went on
to add that the proposed collaboration on economic studies would
allow regional initiatives to be examined by the best analysts in
the world, drawing on the vast international experience that has
been accumulated already in other parts of the world.
In presenting the East Asia Integrates volume, Mr. Homi Kharas,
Chief Economist for East Asia at the World Bank and co-editor
said:? "In the context of the Doha development agenda, and
from the likely outcome of the Cancun meetings, it is clear that
pursuit of a 'trade for development' strategy is vital for East
Asia."? He presented the highlights of the new book, stressing
that it urged policymakers to broaden their approach beyond
narrower, but important, technical considerations of trade policy
to emphasizing development outcomes and links to social
stability.
Countries must operate on three levels, the research
suggests:? internationally, they can influence multilateral
negotiations, and should pay particular attention to standards and
to liberalization in agro-industries and services. Regionally, they
can achieve deeper integration to promote regional production
networks, and broader integration with scope? for gains in
agriculture and other sensitive sectors.? Nationally, they
need to take a more comprehensive approach to policy by adopting a
consistent development strategy addressing logistics, environment
and labor standards and poverty reduction as well as trade
liberalization.
Mr. Fu Ziying, Assistant Minister of Commerce, Mr. Narendra Raj
Pandey, Ambassador of Nepal and representative of SAARC, and Mr.
Andriana Supandy, Counsellor of the Indonesian Embassy and
representative of ASEAN provided their unique perspectives on
progress towards economic integration and the challenge that lies
ahead.? Comments from the audience suggested broad endorsement
of the book's findings, with several participants stressing the
importance of linking trade and development more closely.?
They stressed the importance of bringing more empirical evidence to
bear on questions of appropriate forms of regional cooperation, and
welcomed the initiative taken by the Boao Forum and the World Bank
to cooperate in this endeavor.
The second part of the day-long seminar was a technical workshop
on Rules of Origin.? Mr. Homi Kharas, who presided over the
workshop, stressed that Rules of Origin are a key element of the
integration process.? They determine the eligibility of
products to receive preferential access.? "Therefore," as
described by Mr. Paul Brenton, a leading expert on the subject and
World Bank staff member, "they are integral parts of preferential
trade arrangements such as bilateral and regional trade agreements
and the non-reciprocal preferences that industrial countries offer
to developing countries."? In view of upcoming discussion on
various East and Southeast Asian regional trade and investment
arrangements, a serious consideration of this issue is required in
the light of experiences gained in Asia so far and in other parts
of the world.? The intention of the workshop, attended chiefly
by technical experts from various Chinese agencies, think tanks and
academic institutions, was to disseminate the latest knowledge on
the subject, setting it in the context of evolving issues in East
and Southeast Asian trade arrangements.
(China.org.cn September 8, 2003)