Bangkok symposium highlights Andean and Asian similarities and potentials

Lima, May 10. Sebastián Alegrett and Rodolfo Severino, Secretaries General of the Andean Community (CAN) and the Association of Southeast Asian Countries (ASEAN), respectively, coincided in highlighting the similarities and potentials of the two regional integration organizations, together with the need for more cooperation between them.

During the first symposium on "The Andean Community and ASEAN in the new millennium", held on May 8 and 9 in the Thai city of Bangkok, the supreme authorities of the two organizations stated that the similarities between them allow for closer cooperation in the search for common solutions to regional problems and in responding to the challenges posed by globalization.

The meeting was opened by Thai Minister of Foreign Affairs, Surin Pitsuwan, who pointed out that although the trading, investment, and tourism relations between the Andean and Asian countries are still in their infancy, the time had come to turn this situation around through "more active cooperation" and he deemed it advisable to study the possibility of a strategic association.

Mr. Pitsuwan drew attention to the fact that in 1998, CAN exports to the ASEAN region amounted to barely 0.4% of its worldwide exports totaling 33.2 billion dollars; at the same time Andean imports from Southeast Asia represented 0.9% of its total imports valued at 40 billion dollars.

He went on to cite as factors that most likely influenced this disappointing level of trade between the two regions, the geographic distance that adds to transportation costs, differences in commercial practices, language and cultural barriers, and particularly the lack of knowledge about each other on the part of the public and private sectors of the two regions, "an obstacle that most certainly can be overcome."

Alegrett, for his part, announced that the CAN, while working to build an Andean Common Market by the year 2005, is also striving to consolidate its economic links with other trading blocs.

After citing some examples, such as the agreements on preferences signed with Brazil and Argentina in an effort to subsequently establish a free trade area with Mercosur and the negotiations that are currently being furthered within the context of the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA), Alegrett proposed a continuation of the dialogue at a future symposium, in Lima.

Severino broached the need for the two groups to learn from each other how to deepen their integration movements and improve cooperation at the regional level and ventured that "this learning process could be made a pillar of the interaction between ASEAN and the CAN."

He suggested the adoption of other measures to strengthen cooperation; these could include encouraging officials, businessmen, and intellectuals of both regions to exchange information on topics of common interest, opening up channels for communication between the CAN and ASEAN Secretariats, and holding consultations and coordinating matters regarding policy adoption in regional and international forums to which both belong.

At the roundtable on the potential for trade and investment that was held as part of the symposium, CAN official Alan Yanovich made a presentation on the investment potential and opportunities offered by the Andean Community.

He suggested, as measures for strengthening cooperation, annual participation in CAN commercial fairs, the organization of lectures on free trade, the exchange and dissemination of information through the web sites, and the establishment of trade councils.

Somphong Wanapha, senior advisor to the Office of the Thai Investment Board, invited exporters to participate in the international fairs and seminars organized by the CAN and to seek new trading and investment opportunities in that region.

Over a hundred people, including business representatives, diplomats, educators, and government officials of the member countries of the two organizations participated in the symposium, which was organized by the government of Thailand with the backing of the CAN.