Asean nations must commit firmly to improving
economic ties and transport links, Indonesian president Susilo Bambang
Yudhoyono says.
Mr
Yudhoyono, speaking at the World Economic Forum on East Asia yesterday, said
the 10 Asean members will play an increasingly important role in the global
economy as the region integrates.
Asean
should aim not just to achieve economic targets through increased ties in trade
and investment, but also commit to peace, development and poverty reduction
across the region, he said. Members should work to improve connectivity in
areas such as transportation, food security, trade, energy, information
technology, banking, education, innovation and social media. Asean must also
destroy existing obstacles to creating these ties to help foster sustainable
growth and development.
Mr
Yudhoyono said existing cooperation within Asean is good, but insufficient to
meeting the region's goals.
He
called on members to expand their linkages to other close allies in East Asia.
"The
new architecture is not limited to 10 Asian nations, but another eight
countries _ China, Japan, South Korea, India, Russia, United States, Australia
and New Zealand," Mr Yudhoyono said.
Asean,
he said, should focus on building up its current advantages in industry, services
and agribusiness.
Indonesia,
the only Asean member in the Group of 20 major economies, had plans to sharply
increase investment in the near future, Mr Yudhoyono said.
Prime
Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said at the same session Thailand was working closely
with Myanmar to develop Dawei as a new development zone.
Thailand
also is committed to strengthening transport and economic links running
north-south and east-west. A new high-speed rail link, running from Kunming in
China to Singapore, would boost transport ties, she said.
The
government is planning the construction of new high-speed rail links between
Bangkok and key urban centres across the country. Bangkok mass transit systems
and Suvarnabhumi airport are also set to be expanded.
Ms
Yingluck said over the next five years Thailand will invest $70 billion in new
transport infrastructure and another $11.4 billion on water management.
Vietnamese
Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung said Asean should strengthen cooperation on
issues such as water management in the Mekong sub-region, hydropower plans and
maritime safety.
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