WEF East Asia; Brief from Dr.Surin Pitsuwan

World Economic Forum on East Asia
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam 6-7 June 2010
Rethinking Asia's Leadership Agenda



Brief from Dr.Surin Pitsuwan, on World Economic Forum East Asia

"The Session of 5 PMs of the Mekong countries has just started here. Thai PM claims that the 5 Mekong countries will contribute to ASEAN Community by 2015. Food security, logistics linkage, 4th bridge across the Me kong, 2.4 b. US $ for railways and roads with neighbors, human resources development at Thai universities, maintaining sustainable environment invite all present to invest and benefit from opportunities of the Mekong Sub-region.

PM of Vietnam is very optimistic about ASEAN integration. The role of the 5 Me kong countries to ASEAN prosperity. PM of Myanmar stresses on the sustainability of environment of the Mekong region.

We must not impact on the Mekong. Myself will emphasize on agriculture, fishery, forestry, conservation efforts. Must be careful with industrial sector. Hydro power is essential. Reforestation is important. Renewable resources must be found.

PM Hun Sen of Cambodia. Me kong flows through 6 countries. People live of the abundance of the River.Conserve Me kong environment poverty still high along the Me kong. Speed of development and population growth put more pressure on the River. climate change has made the Me kong more vulnerable. Need cooperation among ripping states. Mutual understanding will help. indifference and mutual accusation will not help. Globalization and regional integration will be our path forward.

We must help each other to lay down joint development. Sincere and close cooperation will bring harmony and progress to people. Basin of Laos. Believes that past experiences demonstrate that CLMV achieved 6 per cent growth rate. Consultation among us will help responsible strategy forward. ASEAN Centralize is essentially will see consultation among CLMV July will see consultation among CLMV and dialogue partners. Railways, roads, linking China with Singapore.

From being landlocked, Laos will be connected and integrated with the rest of ASEAN. Will be able to contribute to prosperity. Professor Scheme of WEF. What does GMS have to offer to business community present here ? PM of Vietnam says GMS has the market, potentiality, young work force, connectivity to help transport products and services. Good for investment Scheme asks PM Abhor how much political differences block ASEAN integration ? PM of Thailand.

Natural resources, population, Japan, China and Korea are cooperating closely to develop GMS. Political cooperation is increasing among us ASEAN. healthy border trade and will be formalized through agreements among us. The ASEAN Charter is our road map to the future. A very informative session to the audience. A thousand of foreign businessmen from all over the world."