Thursday, April 09, 2009

ASEAN to press Australia for more help

April 9, 2009
Ron Corben
AAP


Australia will be pressed to provide greater financial and technical help to South East Asian nations at this weekend's summit meeting of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN).

The call to Australia and other dialogue partners - including New Zealand, China, Japan, South Korea and India - was made by the ASEAN secretary general, Surin Pitsuwan.

Surin said ASEAN was looking for international partners to assist in building more public infrastructure.

He told reporters in Jakarta before departing for the weekend summit that public infrastructure needed to be more than railways, roads and shipping lanes.

The programs should also include electricity and telecommunications to assist the ASEAN regions integration.

Surin also wanted the dialogue countries to provide a larger pool of well-trained workers, especially at the technical and professional levels.

Most Asian governments have announced economic stimulus packages to boost domestic economies in the face of the global recession.

But sustained recovery will require longer-term investment in infrastructure.

The call comes as Australia looks to step up aid through trade programs in the region, with Thailand a key launching base for programs.

The aim, say officials, is to boost economic development in Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam with Thailand as the hub to draw resources for development programs.

Under the programs Australia has committed $A20 million to capacity building and a further $A57 million in aid for trade programs.

Officials say Australia is set to offer programs of financial capacity building to support ASEAN to recover from the global recession.

The officials said the aim was to strengthen the financial systems to deal with future economic shocks.

At a meeting of ASEAN in February, Australia and New Zealand signed a free trade agreement with ASEAN, which is expected to further boost the prospect of trade into the region.

At this week's summit, East Asian economies are also looking to build on some renewed confidence in the global economy following the recent G20 summit in London.

Japan's Prime Minister Taro Aso is due to announce a $US20 billion ($A28.24 billion) program in official development aid for developing countries, including Thailand.

Japan's Ambassador to Thailand Kyoji Komachi said a strong package of assistance was needed to assist Asian economies to recover as soon as possible.

Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, who is also the chair of ASEAN, is due to meet with Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, and the leaders of New Zealand and India on Saturday.

The summit is taking place against the backdrop of political protests in Thailand.

Supporters of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra have called for Mr Abhisit to stand down and call fresh elections.

Mr Abhisit has assured ASEAN leaders and dialogue partners of their safety during the summit.

Australia has issued a fresh travel warning for visitors to Thailand to exercise a high degree of caution due to political instability in Thailand and the possibility of political demonstrations.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

This how the Thai is. They block from leting Astralia become member of ASEAN now wants to push Australia for the financial help.

Cambodia support and voice that Australia should be admit into ASEAN member.

Australia should say no to the trouble Thai.

Anonymous said...

More roads, bridges, hydraulic dams and most importantly, and especially for Cambodia, more houses for the poor, accompanied with wells and latrines. Unemployed Cambodians could participate in a work for foods program. Those who want a house should also lend hands voluntary. That should be part of stimulus package sought after at Pattaya ASEAN Summit.

Anonymous said...

What?, Asean pressing for Australia for more aid. Is this reporting corect and direct from the mouth of the Secretary General of Asean? If it is, then The Sec Gen is wrong. What a shameless Sec Gen, going round begging for aid. Some of the Asean countries can even provide aid to Australia (the other way round).