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DAVOS, Switzerland: President Arroyo said here Friday the
Association of Southeast Asian Nations has already taken “a bold
step forward rather than a timid step back” by committing to write
its first charter to create a more formalized regional bloc with
legally binding rules and regulations.
In her remarks at the World
Economic Forum (WEF) plenary session focusing on “Asean’s 40
years–A New Future,” the President said Southeast Asian leaders
have unanimously endorsed a blueprint of the Asean charter drafted
by eminent persons from across the region and included possible
sanctions or even the expulsion of misbehaving members.
“An Asean charter will help
achieve ‘One Vision, One Identity, One Community,’ and
hopefully, someday, ‘One Union’ for Asean. It will achieve this
by providing an enhanced institutional framework as well as
conferring a legal personality on the Asean,” she told
participants of the forum that include Prime Ministers Nguyen Tan
Dung of Vietnam, Abdullah Badawi of Malaysia and Jusuf Wanandi of
Indonesia.
Time International editor Michael
Elliot acted as moderator.
The President said that at a time
when the Doha Round is faltering, the Asean, which groups Brunei,
Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines,
Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, has also proclaimed support for the
resumption of the global trade talks.
Most importantly, the group also
remains committed to expanding its trade-reach to create the
world’s great trading blocs and has accelerated the establishment
of an Asean Community by 2015.
The President, who is chairman of
this year’s regional summit, cited two major challenges for Asean
in its desire to join the global trade: 1) how to be more
competitive, and 2) how to take advantage of each others’
strengths.
-- PNA
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