Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali on Monday urged the Asian and European countries under ASEM to focus more on connectivity of ideas and cultures to be able to reduce tensions among countries and regions.
“We must priortise projects to form a better respect for each other’s civilisational past and socio-cultural norms and value-systems,” he said.
The Foreign Minister was addressing the plenary session-2 of 13th ASEM Foreign Ministers’ Meeting titled ‘3rd Decade of ASEM: Making ASEM Partnership
more Dynamic and Connected’.
Though he did not touch Rohingya issue, especifically at the plenary sessions, the Foreign Minister will discuss the issue broadly with State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi after the ASEM meeting that ends on Tuesday.
The Foreign Minister said many countries are facing
existential threats and being subject to unending adaptations at very high costs.
“As such, our two regions should also coordinate more and strongly articulate views on protecting our environment and the planet earth. We may consider simpler measures to facilitate transfer of new technologies to cut emission of harmful gases as we promote indigenous know-how and traditional knowledge to protect and preserve global common good,” he said.
With globalisation, Asia and Europe are experiencing high economic complementarily and need for connectivity, said the Foreign Ministry. “In this era of digitisation and satellite-based communication, scope for stronger digital connectivity is very high. Higher levels of digital connectivity will naturally contribute to bringing our people closer to each other.”
He said it is no denying that Asia and Europe today enjoy much wider connectivity. “But, talks on tangible projects like infrastructure and economic interactions generate quick traction, and in the process also invite opposition.”
The Foreign Minister also spoke at the plenary session-1 of 13th ASEM Foreign Ministers’ Meeting on “Synergising Peace and Sustainable Development.”
He said continued peace and stability is an essential pre-requisite to ensuring sustainable development. “Sustainable development and sustaining peace are two sides of the same coin. Peace is an important element and tool of human security, which is an important dimension of development, too.”
Minister Ali said they need to counter common threats to peace and security like weapons of mass destruction, nuclear non-proliferation, terrorism and cyber security collectively.
“Any collaborative effort, initiative or undertaking to tackle terrorism and other global threats should be broad-based, participatory in nature. In some of these areas, ASEM may have focal points,” he said.
The Foreign Minister said lack of development can make people vulnerable and create insecurities. “Similarly, without peace investments in sustainable development can go waste. We must seek to break this negative nexus by promoting inclusive development, pluralism and respect for all communities. For this, we need equity and justice at the national, regional and global level.”
The minister said equally important are man-made disasters and humanitarian crises and things become further complicated when populations are deprived of their economic and social rights and denied their civil, political rights for whatever justifications.
