Manila - The Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN)
was urged on Monday to work for closer ties and deeper cooperation in
East Asia to ensure greater prosperity and security for the region
amid strained global relations.
In her keynote address at the 40th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting in
Manila, Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo said the
10-member regional bloc must 'continue to nurture its relations' with
key partners in East Asia 'to become a true expanding union.'
'Developing ASEAN is more than creating a regional community,' she
said. 'It is about creating a dynamic force in Asia to maximize the
benefits of globalization.'
'At a time in the world when there are strained alliances from
Iraq to the World Trade Organization, it is essential that new vital
alliances will be forged to keep the world stable and strong,' she
added. 'Some sort of East Asia community will be a bold step in that
direction.'
Arroyo said the establishment of an East Asia community could
start with expanding economic linkages between ASEAN members -
Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand,
Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar - and such key partners as China,
Japan, South Korea, India, Australia and New Zealand.
'Deepening integration on this level would mean completing and
eventually forging the individual free trade agreements ASEAN is
currently working out with these countries,' she said.
Arroyo also stressed the need for East Asia to boost regional
security cooperation on various issues that could impact on the
stability of the region, including the North Korean nuclear crisis,
disputes over the South China Sea and internal conflicts among
individual countries.
'We cannot let these potential conflicts and trans-national
problems divide us,' she said.
Amid questions on whether an East Asian community was necessary or
not, Arroyo said it was clear that a united region would be stronger.
'Each member nation and the entire region will benefit,' she said.
'An East Asia community will strengthen our economy, security and
prosperity.'
With ASEAN at the forefront of the development of an East Asia
community, Arroyo said reforms must also be carried out within the
regional bloc as envisioned by leaders when they agreed to draft a
landmark charter that would transform the group into a rules-based
organization in a summit in January.
Foreign ministers were expected to receive a first draft of the
proposed charter on Monday, despite continuing disagreements on
whether the creation of a human rights commission should be included
in the document.
Myanmar has blocked the inclusion of the human rights body in the
charter, while other new members have also objected to the
enforcement of sanctions against errant members as well as a shift
from a consensus-based approach of decision-making to voting.
Despite the difficulties, foreign ministers were confident that a
proposed charter would be submitted to leaders in Singapore in
November.
'Building the ASEAN community is a long-term endeavour,' Arroyo
said. 'There are no shortcuts or quick fixes. But we are determined
and will persevere to build a community that will provide a more
secure, stable and prosperous life for all people.'
'ASEAN has long been a force for regional peace and progress for
40 years,' she added. 'The task ahead is how to sustain this role for
the next 40 years in an era of growing regionalism and deepening
globalization.'
The ASEAN foreign ministers will meet with counterparts from 17
dialogue partners starting on Tuesday. They were expected to discuss
various issues, including nuclear disarmament and fighting terrorism.
© 2007 dpa - Deutsche Presse-Agentur 
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