M A I N   N E W S

Regional ties need of hour: PM
n Calls for freer movement of people, goods, services
n Announces setting up of fund to tackle climate change 
Ashok Tuteja
Tribune News Service

Thimphu, April 28
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today cautioned the SAARC member states that the regional grouping runs the risk of marginalisation and stagnation if it failed to influence the global discourse on issues of concern to humankind.

In his opening remarks at the inaugural ceremony of the two-day SAARC summit in this picturesque Bhutanese capital, he said the SAARC countries must acknowledge that the glass of regional cooperation, regional development and regional integration was half empty.

Noting that intra-regional trade flows had grown and transport and telecommunication links had expanded, he regretted that the share of intra-regional trade and investment flows in total trade and investment flows in South Asia remained was less than what was being witnessed in East and South-east Asia.

“The challenge before us is to translate institutions into activities, conventions into programmes, official statements into popular sentiments. Declarations at summits and official-level meetings do not amount to regional cooperation or integration,” said Manmohan Singh, doing some plain-speaking on why SAARC has not achieved its full potential during 25 years of its existence.

Manmohan Singh was of the view that regional cooperation should enable freer movement of people, of goods, of services and of ideas. It should help the region discover its shared heritage and build a common future for it.

Although SAARC states were able to cooperate individually as members in various fora, the people of South Asia together, however, did not have the voice they should and could have in the global polity. The 21st century could not be an Asian century unless South Asia marched together, he emphasised.

Referring to the summit’s focus on climate change, he welcomed the conclusion of the SAARC convention on cooperation on environment and announced the setting up of an ‘India Endowment for Climate Change in South Asia’ to help member states meet urgent adaptation and capacity building needs. He also proposed the setting up of climate innovation centres in South Asia to develop sustainable energy technologies based on indigenous resource endowments.

Manmohanspeak

n Glass of regional cooperation, development half empty.n Share of intra-regional trade in S Asia less than that in East Asia.n Challenge before us is to translate conventions into programmes.n 21st century cannot be an Asian century till S Asia marches together.