Cambodian PM calls on ASEAN members to close economic gaps

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen on Monday called on member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations ‘to double the efforts’ to narrow the economic growth gaps between members. 

 

“Indeed, narrowing such development gaps is not only a pre-condition for ensuring ASEAN competitiveness and reducing poverty of our people but also for helping ASEAN achieve real regional integration and promoting its centrality in broader regional and world affairs,” said prime minister Hun Sen at the opening on Monday of the 45th ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting at Peace Palace in Phnom Penh.

 

He said while the ASEAN economy remains resilient amid the global financial crisis, the region continues to face challenges both at the global and regional levels such as the fragile state of economic recovery of western countries coupled with the severe debt crisis in the eurozone.

 

The Cambodian leader also said that ASEAN’s goal to establish a single market is also threatened by the lingering political turmoil in the Middle East and North Africa as well as high oil prices, the impact of climate change and natural disasters as well as food and energy security issues.

 

ASEAN secretary general Dr. Surin Pitsuwan had earlier said that ASEAN economies have remained resilient amid global financial turmoil and managed to achieve a combined $2.4 trillion gross domestic product.

 

Hun Sen reiterated in his speech that ASEAN should also strengthen cooperation in addressing challenges of pandemics as Cambodian health authorities in the capital grapple with finding cure to the mysterious respiratory disease that has caused deaths of 64 children in the capital Phnom Penh since last week.

 

As chair of this year’s ASEAN meetings, Cambodia will present to ASEAN leaders ‘The Phnom Penh Agenda’ that sets priority actions for the next three years, from 2012-2015.

 

The Phnom Penh agenda aims to fast track the ASEAN connectivity agenda that establishes infrastructure links between economies in the Asian mainland such as Laos, Thailand, Vietnam, Burma/Myanmar and Cambodia with archipelagic states such as the Philippines and Indonesia.-GMA News (July 10, 2012 12:17AM)