Dr. Hoo Chiew Ping, senior lecturer in the Strategic Studies and International Relations Programme (Photo: VNA) Kuala Lumpur (VNA) – Complementary cooperation is one ofASEAN's strengths in forging cooperation with any other powers, and willprovide ASEAN with advantage in the era of Indo-Pacific competition and post-COVID-19pandemic order, said a Malaysian expert.
Dr. Hoo Chiew Ping, seniorlecturer in the Strategic Studies and International Relations Programme at theNational University of Malaysia, made the remarks in an interview with theVietnam News Agency’s correspondents in Kuala Lumpur on the occasion of the53rd founding anniversary of the association (August 8).
She said she agreed with Kishore Mahbubani and Jeffrey Sng, authors of “TheASEAN Micrcle” that the ASEAN Miracle can be recognised inthree major areas.
Accordingly to Hoo, first, ASEAN is extremely diverse and yet able to harmonisethe diversity through ASEAN. Second, as a region ASEAN went from one of themost impoverished regions in post-war era to become the most vibrant economy inthe 21st century, and third, from geopolitical pessimism during the Cold War tolaying foundation for regional security architecture anchoring on ASEAN'splatforms.
In itsdevelopment process, ASEAN has built relationships with many partners on theprinciple of dialogue and cooperation as a guideline for foreign relations. Thebloc’s external relations are continually expanding and deepening throughframeworks such as ASEAN Plus One (ASEAN 1), ASEAN Plus Three (ASEAN 3), East Asia Summit (EAS), ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting Plus (ADMM ).
She said ASEAN's external partnership hasalways been performing very well due to its platforms involving multilateral fora.
Presenting ASEAN as a united entity is important in managing externalrelations, she noted.
According to the expert, the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC) is the basiccriteria of ASEAN dialogue partnership. The signatories of TAC thereby form thecore of ASEAN's external relations, and ASEAN platforms are understood aspromoting cooperation rather than being utilised as a tool to go against othercompeting powers.
Regarding barriers and challenges that ASEAN needs to overcome to achieve itsgoal of doubling intra-regional trade by 2025, Hoo said ASEAN economiccommunity should bridge economic connectivity among themselves by investing inindustries by more developed countries into the less developed economies,encouraging openness by creating regional production and supply networks thatfocuses on each country's comparative advantage, and increase direct investmentby regional corporations to induce regional market integration.
The idea of creating a brand name like "Made in ASEAN" may encourageintra-regional trade and economic cooperation, so private investments need tobe encouraged by the governments, she said.
Measures should be taken to harmonise standards among the ASEAN member states,she said, adding that trade integration agenda should be taken more seriouslyby all member states, as serious as their focus on extra-regional trade./.
Dr. Hoo Chiew Ping, seniorlecturer in the Strategic Studies and International Relations Programme at theNational University of Malaysia, made the remarks in an interview with theVietnam News Agency’s correspondents in Kuala Lumpur on the occasion of the53rd founding anniversary of the association (August 8).
She said she agreed with Kishore Mahbubani and Jeffrey Sng, authors of “TheASEAN Micrcle” that the ASEAN Miracle can be recognised inthree major areas.
Accordingly to Hoo, first, ASEAN is extremely diverse and yet able to harmonisethe diversity through ASEAN. Second, as a region ASEAN went from one of themost impoverished regions in post-war era to become the most vibrant economy inthe 21st century, and third, from geopolitical pessimism during the Cold War tolaying foundation for regional security architecture anchoring on ASEAN'splatforms.
In itsdevelopment process, ASEAN has built relationships with many partners on theprinciple of dialogue and cooperation as a guideline for foreign relations. Thebloc’s external relations are continually expanding and deepening throughframeworks such as ASEAN Plus One (ASEAN 1), ASEAN Plus Three (ASEAN 3), East Asia Summit (EAS), ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting Plus (ADMM ).
She said ASEAN's external partnership hasalways been performing very well due to its platforms involving multilateral fora.
Presenting ASEAN as a united entity is important in managing externalrelations, she noted.
According to the expert, the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC) is the basiccriteria of ASEAN dialogue partnership. The signatories of TAC thereby form thecore of ASEAN's external relations, and ASEAN platforms are understood aspromoting cooperation rather than being utilised as a tool to go against othercompeting powers.
Regarding barriers and challenges that ASEAN needs to overcome to achieve itsgoal of doubling intra-regional trade by 2025, Hoo said ASEAN economiccommunity should bridge economic connectivity among themselves by investing inindustries by more developed countries into the less developed economies,encouraging openness by creating regional production and supply networks thatfocuses on each country's comparative advantage, and increase direct investmentby regional corporations to induce regional market integration.
The idea of creating a brand name like "Made in ASEAN" may encourageintra-regional trade and economic cooperation, so private investments need tobe encouraged by the governments, she said.
Measures should be taken to harmonise standards among the ASEAN member states,she said, adding that trade integration agenda should be taken more seriouslyby all member states, as serious as their focus on extra-regional trade./.
VNA
