ID :
24904
Thu, 10/16/2008 - 18:17
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/24904
The shortlink copeid
AHMAD SHABERY SAYS ASEAN GOVTS NEED TO STICK TOGETHER IN THE FACE OF ADVERSITY
From Yong Soo Heong
NANNING (Guangxi,China), Oct 16 (Bernama) -- Governments in Asean need to stick together in the face of adversity during these uncertain times so that they can take action collectively and provide for the well-being of their people, Malaysian Information Minister Ahmad Shabery Cheek said here Thursday.
Speaking in reference to the recent financial meltdown in the United States
and Western Europe, he said it was in these times when Asean's regionalism could
be a stabilising factor as the region's stability was again being
challenged.
"But I am steadfast in my belief that Asean will be able to withstand these
challenges as we have grown more resilient, stronger and integrated than
before," he said in his remarks at the Conference of the Asean-China Ministers
Responsible for Information, here.
More than 200 delegates, including Asean Ministers Responsible for
Information (AMRI), are attending the one-day conference at the International
Conference Centre in Liyuan Resort on the outskirts of the city.
Ahmad Shabery said holding this high-level conference at this time was
not only appropriate but very timely.
"As ministers responsible for information, a commodity which is extremely
crucial for the development and management of our economies, we need to be
mindful of the importance of the exchange of information. This is because the
speedy exchange of information will allow us to know quickly what actions can be
taken accordingly in our respective countries," he said.
In light of what had happened in the financial markets of the West, he
said, governments in this region needed to be level-headed against the
after-effects of the financial tsunami.
"So far, our robust economies and strong fundamentals in our banking
systems
have enabled us to have relatively low impact from the crisis," he said.
Recalling the 1997-1998 Asian financial crisis, Ahmad Shabery paid tribute
to China for its decisive role in not devaluing its currency as it provided a
stabilising effect on its neighbours.
During those chaotic times, he said, some countries weathered the storm
through their own means while others had to follow measures prescribed by
Western institutions, whose impact had a painful effect on people in the region
and the emotional scars remained until today.
He said some of the home-grown proactive measures were even frowned upon by
Western institutions as not being done according to market norms.
But today, he said, those measures which were once condemned as
anti-markets such as state interventions and bailouts had become the necessity
of the day.
"Those days the people saw that governments were the problem and
markets were the solution. But today, people see that markets are the problem
and governments are the solution," he said.
He said that as Asean strove to build an economic community by 2015, a
single market of 570 million people with total trade of US$1.6 trillion and a
combined GDP of US$1.4 trillion, the region needed to be more resilient in the
face of these challenges.
"We also need to be more cohesive to work with friendly neighbours like
China.
In times like this, because of the strength of its economy, China has
become the engine of growth for this region. I am sure that this engine will
continue to drive us in Asean and provide the much-needed resilience during
turbulent
times," he said.
As ministers responsible for information, he said, it was their duty to
promote greater understanding and to accelerate the pace of development by
narrowing the information gap.
Under the auspices of the AMRI + China Forum, he said, much could be done
by having linkages, exchange of content, exchange of personnel, training and
joint development of content industries.
"As outlined in the MoU, Asean and China have agreed to focus on a number
of key areas, including the interactive and digital media sector,
co-productions and human capital building," he said, adding that Malaysia
welcomed the opportunity to look at mechanisms aimed at strengthening
co-operation in information flow.
"We want to work with the best creative minds in the information and media
industries of Asean and China to take these industries to greater heights," he
said.
Saying that there was much to tell the world about Asean and China, he
said, they must remain committed and united to promoting better information flow
for the "well-being of our people in good or bad times".
NANNING (Guangxi,China), Oct 16 (Bernama) -- Governments in Asean need to stick together in the face of adversity during these uncertain times so that they can take action collectively and provide for the well-being of their people, Malaysian Information Minister Ahmad Shabery Cheek said here Thursday.
Speaking in reference to the recent financial meltdown in the United States
and Western Europe, he said it was in these times when Asean's regionalism could
be a stabilising factor as the region's stability was again being
challenged.
"But I am steadfast in my belief that Asean will be able to withstand these
challenges as we have grown more resilient, stronger and integrated than
before," he said in his remarks at the Conference of the Asean-China Ministers
Responsible for Information, here.
More than 200 delegates, including Asean Ministers Responsible for
Information (AMRI), are attending the one-day conference at the International
Conference Centre in Liyuan Resort on the outskirts of the city.
Ahmad Shabery said holding this high-level conference at this time was
not only appropriate but very timely.
"As ministers responsible for information, a commodity which is extremely
crucial for the development and management of our economies, we need to be
mindful of the importance of the exchange of information. This is because the
speedy exchange of information will allow us to know quickly what actions can be
taken accordingly in our respective countries," he said.
In light of what had happened in the financial markets of the West, he
said, governments in this region needed to be level-headed against the
after-effects of the financial tsunami.
"So far, our robust economies and strong fundamentals in our banking
systems
have enabled us to have relatively low impact from the crisis," he said.
Recalling the 1997-1998 Asian financial crisis, Ahmad Shabery paid tribute
to China for its decisive role in not devaluing its currency as it provided a
stabilising effect on its neighbours.
During those chaotic times, he said, some countries weathered the storm
through their own means while others had to follow measures prescribed by
Western institutions, whose impact had a painful effect on people in the region
and the emotional scars remained until today.
He said some of the home-grown proactive measures were even frowned upon by
Western institutions as not being done according to market norms.
But today, he said, those measures which were once condemned as
anti-markets such as state interventions and bailouts had become the necessity
of the day.
"Those days the people saw that governments were the problem and
markets were the solution. But today, people see that markets are the problem
and governments are the solution," he said.
He said that as Asean strove to build an economic community by 2015, a
single market of 570 million people with total trade of US$1.6 trillion and a
combined GDP of US$1.4 trillion, the region needed to be more resilient in the
face of these challenges.
"We also need to be more cohesive to work with friendly neighbours like
China.
In times like this, because of the strength of its economy, China has
become the engine of growth for this region. I am sure that this engine will
continue to drive us in Asean and provide the much-needed resilience during
turbulent
times," he said.
As ministers responsible for information, he said, it was their duty to
promote greater understanding and to accelerate the pace of development by
narrowing the information gap.
Under the auspices of the AMRI + China Forum, he said, much could be done
by having linkages, exchange of content, exchange of personnel, training and
joint development of content industries.
"As outlined in the MoU, Asean and China have agreed to focus on a number
of key areas, including the interactive and digital media sector,
co-productions and human capital building," he said, adding that Malaysia
welcomed the opportunity to look at mechanisms aimed at strengthening
co-operation in information flow.
"We want to work with the best creative minds in the information and media
industries of Asean and China to take these industries to greater heights," he
said.
Saying that there was much to tell the world about Asean and China, he
said, they must remain committed and united to promoting better information flow
for the "well-being of our people in good or bad times".
