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ASEAN seeks stronger G20 voice
Southeast Asian leaders agreed during the 15th ASEAN summit in Thailand on Saturday on the importance of continued and more effective representation in this group of the world's 20 largest economies
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outheast Asian leaders agreed during the 15th ASEAN summit in Thailand on Saturday on the importance of continued and more effective representation in this group of the world's 20 largest economies.
Speaking in the Thai seaside resorts of Cha-am and Hua Huin, the newly sworn-in Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs Marty M. Natalegawa said that leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian nations (ASEAN) had set up a contact group to coordinate member-state positions before G20 meetings.
"Thanks to Indonesia's suggestion, we decided this morning that our finance ministers would routinely meet ahead of G20 meetings to ensure coordination," said Marty, who represented Indonesia during the closed meeting Saturday morning.
With Vietnam as the next chair of ASEAN, the contact group will comprise Indonesia, Vietnam and the ASEAN secretary-general.
Marty said being a permanent member of the G20 did not mean Indonesia was neglecting ASEAN.
That was why, he added, Indonesia had insisted on continued participation of ASEAN in the G20 and had strived for its recognition in the economic grouping.
The two day summit adopted several policy positions including on ASEAN+3 cooperation on food security and bio-energy development as well as a joint statement on climate change, on ASEAN connectivity and a declaration on education.
On connectivity, Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya said the leaders recognized that greater connectivity, both physical and non-physical, would not only generate economic growth and further promote integration but also enhance the bloc's centrality in the region.
In terms of reactions to the global economic crisis, he added, the leaders looked forward to the launching of the US$120 billion Chiang Mai multilateral initiative (CMIM) scheduled for the end of this year.
"This would help restore confidence and enhance the ability to address the impact of the financial and economic crisis," Kasit said.
Also on Saturday activists from Greenpeace Southeast Asia held a rally, trying to make their way to the venue at the Dusit Thani Hotel, to express disappointment over the cancellation of an ASEAN declaration on climate change.
Pushing a big "earth ball" with the words "ASEAN Leaders: U Turn The Earth" they marched from the nearby Sheraton Hotel, the summit's media center, but were forcefully dispersed by security forces.
"We understand that the Internal Security Act is being applied here, but we just want to be heard," said Tara Buakamsi, the Greenpeace Southeast Asia campaign manager.
He said his organization was just challenging the ASEAN leaders to demonstrate collective leadership to protect the region's 850 million people from the debilitating impacts of climate change by making commitments to zero deforestation and to low carbon development strategies.
"We want ASEAN to come up with more concrete proposals to be brought to the Copenhagen Summit," said the organization's political advisor, Zelda Soriano, referring to the UN forum on climate change meeting to be held in Copenhagen in December.
