Vientiance (Laos), November 28
Even as smaller countries of the 10-member Asean grouping have expressed reservations about the proposed Free Trade Area (FTA) with China as it will put them at a great disadvantage, efforts are on to remove their misgivings.
“We will ensure that the difficulties and disadvantages caused by competition for some member countries will be overcome. We will make sure that whatever we do will be comfortable to all,” emphasised Asean Secretary -General Ong Keng Yong.
China and Asean signed an economic cooperation agreement in 2002 which will lead to the world’s biggest free trade zone of nearly 2 billion people with a combined GDP of $ 2 trillion.
The move to create an Asean-China FTA has created fears that smaller economies will not only be swamped but left out in the cold by their large northern neighbour.
Over the past few days, Asean and Chinese officials discussing the free trade zone are trying hard to convince certain small Asean members that the arrangement will be evolved on the basis of mutual benefit to all.
Mr Ong strained every nerve to impress upon Asean’s smaller partners that the region’s market had to be made attractive to entice investments. He stressed that the spirit of cooperation among Asean countries together with China, South Korea and Japan was good. Interestingly, China’s trade with its Southeast Asian neighbours had risen on an average by 20 per cent since 1990.
Asean officials preparatory to the groupings summit tomorrow and on Tuesday agreed to accelerate their integration especially between newer Asian neighbours.
At the officials level, the Asean plus three has also extended its cooperation to security issues, transnational crime and security on the seas. A strategic action plan is on the anvil for the Asean plus China cooperation.
Asean believes that Japan has a critical role to play in developing the Mekong basin. Japan has been Asean’s dialogue partner for more than three decades. Discussions are also under way about the 10th anniversary celebrations of the Asean plus three grouping. The plus three comprises Japan, China and South Korea. If a consensus is reached then these celebrations will be held in the Phillipines.
Meanwhile, Myanmar’s Foreign Minister U Nyan Win has assured the Asean grouping that the recent change of leadership in his country will not affect the domestic and foreign policy. He reaffirmed that Myanmar desired friendly relations with all countries of the world, especially its neighbours.
He said human rights was recognised as important by law as well as by tradition and culture.
