Asean Secretary-General Dr Surin Pitsuwan is projecting an economic growth of between 4.5 and 6.0 percent for the region this year, citing its sound economy management as a factor.
"We have saved a lot. We have created enough buffer zone by stimulating our economy during last year's financial crisis," he told the International Conference on Changing Global Landscape and Its Implications on Regional Architecture at the Bangkok Convention Center.
He said Asean gained a lot from the international financial and trade system due to its centrality role in the East Asian region and drew inter-connectivity with other big world players such as the United States, Europe and India.
Asean, he said, did not view the proposed East Asian Community consisting of Asean, China, Japan and South Korea as a challenge but as a recognition that Asean could contribute to the East Asia consultation and policies.
Former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan, who visited the Asean Secretariat in Jakarta yesterday, even commended Asean for its achievement thus far, he said.
"The world wanted Asean to succeed because if it achieved what it wanted to, then the world has one region less to worry about," Dr Surin said.
He said the East has now played an important role in the global economic situation as it was the East that the West asked to pull the world out of the economic crisis last year. -pna
Linkback:
https://tubagbohol.mikeligalig.com/index.php?topic=25980.0
