Aziz wants self-reliance for Asian progress
06 April, 2005
|
| ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, left, addresses at the inaugural session of the fourth ministerial meeting of the Asia Cooperation Dialogue (A |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ISLAMABAD, April 07 (Online): Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz has presented a comprehensive strategy for promoting economic and commercial cooperation amongst Asian countries and said this could guarantee peace, stability and prosperity in the entire region.
Speaking to the inaugural session of the 4th ministerial conference of Asia Cooperation Dialogue here on Wednesday at Jinnah Convention Centre, the prime minister said Asians were talented and hardworking people forming 60 per cent of world population, adding Asia is world's biggest market with vital resources and reservoirs.
He said the ACD should ensure regional trade promotes, Asian countries depend on trade and self reliance than seeking foreign financial assistance and enhance their mutual support and cooperation in energy, trade, transportation and tourism; free trade agreement are signed to liberalize regional trade, joint business and investment ventures start in Asia, and more attention is given to scientific and technological research and development.
The prime minister also called for eliminating social injustices and imbalances from Asian society, conserving environment for sustainable progress, institutionalizing cooperation and promoting public-private partnership amongst Asian states.
He said the free trade agreement in South Asia would benefit all nations of the region, adding the self-reliance, consolidation and of building a partnership from the individual strengths of each of Asian states will contribute to this effect considerably.
He said, "we want economic and commercial relations with Asian states on equity basis."
He said the ultimate barometer of success was to realize the vision of a common greater Asian neighbourhood consisting of peaceful and prosperous societies cooperating with each other in harmony in diverse fields for their common good, progress, prosperity of their people.
He said sustained peace and prosperity would continue to be a distant dream until political disputes including Kashmir conflict were not resolved peacefully.
He said Pakistan wanted continuity and sustainability in the composite dialogue process with India and was making effective measures to carry ahead it more constructively for amicable resolution of all bilateral disputes.
He termed terrorism a big challenge and said Pakistan condemned violence in all its forms and manifestations. However, the root causes of terrorism should be addressed to take care of well purge societies of the menace.
The prime minister said Gen Pervez Musharraf wanted to make Pakistan an enlightened, progressive and moderate state.
He said peace could be guaranteed if the issues confronting Islamic world were resolved at the earliest possible.
He said during the past five years, the government made some very 'difficult' decisions for putting country's economy on track, introduce reforms in many sectors and removed barriers discouraging investment.
He said Pakistan was now heading towards second generation reforms, adding efforts for strengthening financial institutions and monetary and tax mechanism, are under way.
He said Pakistan of tomorrow would be a Pakistan full of opportunities. "We are fast heading towards our destination due to political stability and economic progress."
The prime minister said Pakistan wanted to start joint investment and business ventures with Asian nations.
In his address at the gathering as keynote speaker, Chinese premier Wen Jiabao said Asian countries would have to eliminate terrorism, trans-national crimes, unjust distribution of resources and poverty and diseases, for sustainable development.
He said no nation should be frightened by Chinese socio-economic progress, adding Beijing wanted strong ties with Asian states.
He said the constitution of the Asia Cooperation Dialogue had increased mutual understanding amongst Asian nations considerably, adding Asia had made great strides in various fields. "We are now fast moving on the path of progress and prosperity after successfully coming out of an era of backwardness."
He said Asian countries would have to promote regional trade and sustainable economic progress.
The Chinese premier said, "Asia is a difficult region that faces problems like uneven distribution of resources, poverty, trans-national crimes, terrorism and diseases. They are obstructing our progress. We will have to act together to fight them all."
He said it was a collective responsibility of Asian countries that they should find out solution to their disputes for bringing in peace, stability and prosperity.
He said, "we will have to respect each other. And stop interfering into other's affairs. This is the key to peace and stability in Asia."
He called for promoting regional cooperation in economy and commerce.
He said Chinese foreign policy was based on peace as it wanted friendly relations and peaceful coexistence with its neighbours.
He said the ACD should be opened for outer world and this would generate more economic activities in the region.
Surakiart Sathirathai, the deputy prime minister of Thailand, said Asia had been lagging behind Europe and the United States albeit it occupied huge resources.
He, however said Asia was fast emerging as a great economic power in the world, adding Asian countries wanted peace, security and harmony and was traveling in the right direction in this regard.
He said, "Asian nations will have to enhance mutual support, cooperation in science and technology."
He said Europe, Africa and Americas had formed institutions for their benefits and the Asia should follow the suit for their progress and prosperity.
He called for forming Asian bonds market, constituting Asian human development centres, and promoting cooperation in sectors like information technology, telecommunications, energy, health, agriculture, and education.
Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri, Pakistani foreign minister, said the emergence of the ACD was a region-wide process reflecting our common desire of self-reliance, consolidation and of building a partnership from the individual strengths of each of Asian states.
He said, "to realize the Asian community's vision necessitated defining what steps we must take, both in short and the long term and to develop conducive conditions and essential building blocks which will act as a factor of stability and promotion cooperation amongst Asian states."
Kasuri said the ACD should act as the main facilitator in forging the essentials of cooperation.
End.
|
