ASIA. already a region of tremendous dynamism, should work for the return of history and re establish Itself as the cradle of civilization . observed a top Malaysian scholar recently
Fuelled by the economic growth of Asia, he said Eastern culture Is challenging the dominance of Western culture for the ^rst time In modern history
Dr Noordin Sopiee. Direr tor General of Malaysia s Institute of Strategic and International Studies and the coun try s eminent person to The Asia Pacific Economic Caucus (APEC), advocated for a rise of Asian Renaissance baaed on a non-confrontational, non xenophobic approach and driven by the finest values and by the people s aspirations.’'
Dr Sopiee was speaking as the keynote speaker at the opening dinner of the Tenth Young Professionals Confer ence organised by the Asis Foundation s Centre for Aslan Pacific Affairs tn Penang. Malaysia between August 21 and 26 last
Nearly 34 participants rep resenting some 23 countries from the Asia and Pacific re gion ranging from Pakistan to the United States and Russia, attended the conference
Speaking on the theme The Rise of Asia: Where we are coming from, where we muat go. Dr Sopiee. while noting the rich cultural heritage of Asia. Identified five core areas needed to bring about an Aslan Renaissance: A peaceful atmoaphere in the' region; Economic dynamism. Psychological transformation — to change many of our Ideology": Finding ways for a productive and sustainable democracy; and Instituting comprehensive human rights in the region
Peace, economic dynamism, psychological transformation and democracy are already apparent in some parts of Asia, particularly East Asia, he said. There is a tremendous outbreak of peace and it is sub tamable. The major task now is that we have to spread it to other parts of Asia — Srl Lanka. India and Pakistan '
He pointed out to the tremendous growth of the East Aslan economies while opting that a World Bank report in 1954 doubted if Japan could. make it and singled out the Republic of Korea as a country
with absolutely no future
Dr Sopiee predicted that India, China and Vietnam would succeed in the next phase of Asia s growth dy namism. And keep your eyes on Bangladesh, it is going td* get up and run
A Ix>ndon School of Eco nomics trained economist he. however, opined against wide scale economic liberalization The big-bang approach of market system liberalization is not the right approach None of the East Asian countries did it that way "
Economic growth has also led to a psychological trans formation in the region, which earlier had no self respect and
considered their own culture as second-rate, he said Asia has begun to rediscover Asia There Is a renewed confidence In what we are aud what we can achieve
Referring to the need for establishing a productive and sustainable system of democracy. Dr Sopiee called for inventing' different types of democracies by prioritizing the needs of individual countries. "Democracy is a terrible system: it is cumbersome and frustrating. But Churchill was right in pointing out that it is the best system man has de veloped
On the human rights front, he said. It is important to get the politics of human rights out of the way to deal with the actual situation
Saying that there is a con sens us on the 28 fundamental dtmerisions of human rights including those In the UN Charter on Human Rights, he.
however observed that the exact priorities should depend on different societies We in Asia should de< Ide to he better than we have been
Dr Sopiee also made a dis Unction between democracy and human rights Many democracies have not been able to provide jobs which is a basic human right."
Economic protectionism was I he biggest security threat to Asia he said and he Is not worried about any military threat to the security either from India or China and de spite problems In the Korean peninsula and over the SpaYtlv Islands In the South China Sea
Dr Sopiee also envisioned a
nance: challenges and change: Foreign policy domestic inter est versus international re sponsibillly Managing eco nomic growth and Regional powers J heir roles ^nd relations.
The assigned presentation of this rorrespondent was on the Role of India as a regional power" on the final day of the conference The presentation looked Into the present mill tary strength of India and its role In the region ft also probed Into the existing rela tlonship between India and other neighbouring countries particularly Bangladesh while pointing out the fact that India had bilateral problems with virtually every country In the
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4,1g role for the United States nr the Asian Renaissance in political, economic. social and cultural fields.
Although the Asian societies still can learn a lot from the West, he pointed out. the Western culture, for the first time. Is facing a challenge from Eastern culture. "What worries me is that there is going to be a conflict of civilizations." ,
Throughout the six-day Tenth Young Professionals Conference the participants also expressed their optimism about the Rise of Asia, but also voiced their concern over pos sible areas of conflict.
At the conference entitled The rise of Asia: managing economic growth and international responsibility." the par ticipants. all bright minds from the region, presented papers on 13 designated issues divided under four broad categories: A new era of gover-
region
However, the presentation pointed out to the huge economic potentials of this region With increased cooperation specially on Jndia s part, the South Asian sub region consisting of the Northeastern Indian states. Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh could make enormous economic gains and prosper together. This correspondent argued that the region has the potential to become a tremendous economic growth region rivaling the economic growth triangles of Southeast Asia
On the final day of the con ference there was also a presentation by the US Ambassador to Malaysia on The role of The United States in the Asia Pacific region." In which he stated that the US. as a pacific nation, has vital interest in the region on security, trade, economics and other global issues