ASEAN to work for closer integration

By Amit Baruah

HANOI, JULY 23. Foreign Ministers of the Association of South- East Asian Nations today pledged to make ``concerted efforts'' to bridge the development gap among ASEAN countries through effective cooperation and mutual assistance.

``We shall work together to identify, through research, analysis and consultation, the comparative strengths of our economies and their potential for complementarity, with a view to promoting regional economic integration and a sense of community and shared responsibility among our nations,'' the Hanoi Declaration stated.

The wordy declaration reiterated the need to develop infrastructure linkages, but stopped short of any concrete monetary commitments on the part of the more developed ASEAN nations.

``We shall continue to expand and deepen our linkages with the rest of the world, particularly with China, Japan and the Republic of Korea within the ASEAN+3 framework, and with other dialogue partners of ASEAN,'' the declaration stated.

``We are determined, for these purposes (narrowing the development gap among ASEAN nations), to mobilise resources in partnership with our dialogue partners, the international community including the private sector...'' the document stated.

It said that ASEAN countries would strengthen transport linkages through developing and implementing more extensive land, sea and air infrastructural projects in order to facilitate the flow of goods and people and to generate higher income for the people in the region.

``Such projects include the Singapore-Kunming (China) rail link and the ASEAN highway network. We urge the international community to provide technical support to and participate in these major infrastructural projects,'' the declaration said.

``We look forward to the expeditious implementation of the trans- ASEAN energy networks consisting of the ASEAN power grid and the trans-ASEAN gas pipeline projects, which would help the security and sustainability of energy supplies in ASEAN,'' the declaration stated.

Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam (CLMV), the four newest members of ASEAN, are to integrate into ASEAN as a regional economy, including the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA), the ASEAN Investment Area and liberalisation of trade and services. ``We reaffirm the importance of expanding more efficient air services in our region for the freer movement of people and goods. ``This would greatly help integrate the ASEAN region, foster commercial and human contacts, and stimulate broad-based economic activities and growth.

``In this light, we reiterate ASEAN's resolve to develop a Competitive Air Services Policy which may be a gradual step towards an Open Sky Policy in ASEAN,'' the document said. It added that a workshop would be convened in Cambodia to develop a comprehensive and coherent programme for Mekong development cooperation, especially for the integration of Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam.

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