Keynote Speech
By H.E. Dr. Surakiart Sathirathai,
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand
At the Opening Ceremony of
ACD H
igh Level Seminar on Asia Cooperation
and Development
21 June 2004, Qingdao, China
--------------------------------
Mr. Long Yongtu, Secretary-General of Boao Forum for Asia,
Excellencies,
Distinguished participants,
Ladies and gentlemen,
It is an honour for me to be invited to address this distinguished
gathering in Qingdao. I wish to commend the Boao Forum for Asia, the Network of
Asia Think-Tank, and the Saranrom Institute for Foreign Affairs of Thailand for
their initiative in co-organizing the High Level Seminar on Asia Cooperation and
Development. This Seminar marks the first ever ACD academic gathering. The
meeting of minds among experts and academics from all corners of Asia will
provide valuable inputs to the Third ACD Ministerial Meeting. Your contribution
will serve as a genesis for pragmatic ideas and bold initiatives in moving
Asia-wide cooperation forward for mutual prosperity.
Globalization, as we know it, has its own misgivings. Globalization, as we
know it, brings benefits to some and sufferings to others. Globalization, as we
know it, is inevitable on one hand but must be manageable on the other. All
nations, big or small, must learn and has learnt to live with it, some with
success, many without. We can see that happening in Asia. At the same time
globalization brings with it the world of increased interdependence. That is why
a success now in one country could be a success tomorrow in another. Or vice
versa. A failure now in one could also breed a failure in another tomorrow. The
Asian financial crisis of 1997 was the example in point. That is why there is no
other choice for Asian countries but to bind together, making sure that the
misgivings of globalization can be managed, making sure that it brings more
benefits than sufferings, and making sure that the effects of globalization that
are passed on from one country to another are that of a success rather than that
of a failure. That is the raison d'etre why we must have the Asia Cooperation
Dialogue, the ACD.
Asia is a continent of diversity. We have abundance of resources. We have a
long history of civilizations. We have rich cultures and traditions. Diversity
can set countries, communities and peoples apart. Diversity can also bring us
together. Our differences can be overcome and turned into our strengths and
advantages for our competitiveness. The vision of a new Asia is now in its
making. Asia's experience in learning to live and tolerate differences, and in
building partnership from diversity has laid a strong foundation for an Asian
community. I believe that Asia can provide a kind of moral leadership in
building a sense of global community amidst the globalized world.
Let us start with Asia that puts aside conflicts and works on engaging in
constructive dialogue and constructive cooperation and partnership. Let us start
with Asia that learns to turn diversity into strength. And let us start with
Asia that learns to leave the bitter part of history behind and live with the
promised prosperous future. Those were my Prime Minister's aspirations, when he
initiated the ACD in 2002.
At his initiative, Asia Cooperation Dialogue or ACD was established with
the strong support of other 17 Asian countries in June 2002. Now comprising 22
countries, the ACD is making progress in tapping into the inherent strengths of
Asian countries for mutual prosperity and sustainable development. Cooperation
takes the form of annual ministerial dialogues and joint projects in 18 areas of
functional cooperation. To encourage cooperation among the diverse membership, a
project does not need to have the participation of the majority, but may be
launched by a few member countries, with others joining in when ready.
Excellencies,
Distinguished participants,
Global developments certainly give rise to new challenges which can hinder
our progress in promoting prosperity. It is timely that the High-Level Seminar
will be deliberating on key challenges to Asia's competitiveness. I wish to
share some ideas on the core elements that underpin the pace and direction of
realizing Asia's strength and potentials.
First, on our competitiveness. One key factor for the
enhancement of Asia's competitiveness is the expansion of trade among and within
Asian sub-regions through bilateral and regional trading arrangements which
serve to capitalize on the diverse resources of the region. The signing of the
frameworks for comprehensive economic partnership between ASEAN and China, ASEAN
and Japan, as well as ASEAN-India is a testimony to the gradual pace of economic
integration in Asia. Such arrangements do not necessarily detract but can indeed
add to the WTO process.
Second, on our people. For Asia to be dynamic and vibrant,
we must go beyond the economic factors. Our large population of various skill,
talent, races, and creativity is our most precious resource. Human resource
development and capacity-building are imperative in making our region more
competitive.
Last week, I attended UNCTAD Eleven in Brazil where we underlined the
significance of South-South cooperation in enhancing capacity-building. On
Thailand's part, we are not only focusing on promoting our own human resource
development, but we are working with our neighbours through strengthening
networking of HRD cooperation. This is evident in the work of the Mekong
Institute located in Thailand which has been elevated to a regional training
center. The Institute in cooperation with developed partners provides training
and capacity-building programmes to countries in the Mekong sub-region. We
intend to share our skills and technology to bridge the development gap as we
intensify economic integration.
Third, on Asia's financial stability. Financial stability
plays an integral part in sustaining Asia's competitiveness. As prime mover on
financial cooperation, Thailand is working closely with ACD partners towards
building the region's financial architecture to prevent a repeat of the 1997
financial crisis. A key instrument is the development of a regional bond market
as initiated by my Prime Minister. The bond market will channel our own savings
to be invested in our own region for our own sustainable development and
prosperity. This is what my Prime Minister calls the new financial architecture
of Asia. He has explained that the development of the Asian Bond market must
involve the demand side and the supply side of the market both of equal
significance.
This initiative has gained region-wide support through the ACD process, and
has been concretized with the creation of an Asian Bond Fund last year. We
expect a second Fund to be established in local denominated currency. ACD must
be core players on the demand side, especially on this second Fund. Thailand has
hosted a series of meetings of experts, officials and academics to explore means
for strengthening the bond market's demand, supply and infrastructure
dimensions. I believe that Finance Ministries of Asian economies will have to be
assertive, outward-looking and work closely together. The stronger financial
position of Asia will enable us to be a stronger trade and investment partner
with other regions.
Fourth, on energy security. The current energy crisis
demonstrates the vital importance of energy resources to our well-being. We
cannot afford to shy away from the hard decisions on managing our energy
resources. We need to accept reality that we no longer live in an era of cheap
oil prices. We need to look long-term and develop our resources. Thailand is
exploring prospects of utilizing alternative fuel. The President of Brazil and
my Prime Minister discussed the possibility of joint research and development on
the utilization of ethanol as alternative fuel.
By seeking new fuel alternatives, we hope to reduce the pressure on oil
producers and their resources. We hope to ensure more stability in the oil
market and to better conserve and better manage fossil fuel resources. We need
to step up cooperation to ensure security of energy supply without further
depleting our resources nor further devastating our environment. We need to be
forward-looking and pursue joint undertakings in developing energy efficiency,
renewable energy sources, alternative fuels and energy infrastructure networks
to sustain energy security.
The Seminar offers a timely occasion to build upon the recommendations of
the two working group meetings hosted by Bahrain and the Philippines on energy
security. The Third ACD Foreign Ministers' Meeting would provide a much needed
political impetus for ACD member countries to formulate a common energy security
strategy in response to the current energy crisis.
Fifth, on agriculture. This issue remains central to our
economies and the livelihoods of our peoples. Asia is home to both the major
exporters and importers of agricultural products. It is also in Asia that we
find both food abundance and hunger. We need to address this dichotomy.
Moreover, we can see that agriculture is a cross-cutting issue extending from
poverty and bio-technology to food-security and international trade. We need to
address how to bring modern technology to our farmers, how to prevent trade
distortion to enhance agricultural exports, how to prevent standards from being
used as non-tariff barriers, and how to ensure food security. A significant step
has been made last month by the ACD Ministerial Meeting on agriculture
cooperation hosted by China. This first ACD sectoral Ministerial Meeting laid
down guidelines for sustainable agriculture development with emphasis on
improving the farmers' well-being.
Excellencies,
Distinguished participants,
Ladies and gentlemen,
As I said from the beginning, the ACD is a constructive dialogue and
cooperation. To be constructive, therefore, it needs inputs and cooperation from
all, in particular, the government, private sector, and the academic circle.
Thailand as ACD coordinator has requested member countries to designate their
academic institutions to engage with the ACD process. Through networking and
participation of the think tanks, ACD will be able to broaden its base by
covering both the private and peoples' sectors. These institutions would also
keep ACD in touch with reality at both the grassroots and policy-making levels.
These institutions can provide pragmatic inputs to make ACD an effective and
forward-looking regional framework.
As we look ahead to the fourth ACD Foreign Ministers' Meeting next year,
Thailand is planning to organize a meeting of ACD think tanks. We intend to lay
the groundwork for their role in supporting the ACD and strengthening the
academic network.
Finally, I have high hopes that all of you from the academic world of Asia
share a similar vision for an Asia community that can provide moral leadership
in building strength from diversity for a world of harmony and tolerance.
Differences in culture, religion and values should not be allowed to become a
source of friction, but should be a basis for the combining of strengths through
partnership and multilateralism. I look to your intellectual and academic inputs
to turn this vision into reality.
I look forward to tomorrow's briefing by my colleague Foreign Minister Li
Zhaoxing to the ACD Ministers on the fruitful results of the Seminar. Your role
and contribution in serving as the academic arm of ACD forms a key pillar in
moving Asia forward towards mutual prosperity.
Thank you.
